"Other people, including me, have written books with main characters who were old and rich. Or old and brilliant. Old sages, old wizards, old rich people"

Elizabeth Moon’s reflection points out a recurring pattern in literature: the kinds of roles assigned to older characters. In storytelling, age is often accompanied by wealth, wisdom, or exceptional ability. Older protagonists tend not to simply exist within the world; they are frequently portrayed as arbiters of knowledge or as figures with resources and power, lending gravitas and credibility to their actions. The "old sage" or "old wizard" archetype has been a staple across genres, particularly in speculative fiction and fantasy, where an elder’s insight or magical talent guides younger heroes on their journeys.

Similarly, the image of the “old rich person” pervades modern and classical literature, where age and affluence combine to create a character of influence—someone with the means to shape events but who is rarely shown in a state of helplessness or struggle without the cushioning effects of status or intellect. The elderly in fiction are rarely depicted as ordinary, vulnerable, or commonplace; instead, they embody aspirations or cautionary tales, seldom as mundane individuals leading everyday lives. This pattern may reflect broader cultural discomfort with aging or a reluctance to confront decline and dependence, preferring instead to tie age to exceptionalism.

Moon’s observation draws attention to these literary conventions, suggesting that there is a lack of authentic representation of older people as simply people—neither all-wise, omnipotent, nor removed from the realities and limitations of ordinary old age. Rather than portraying old age as just another human experience, stories tend to imbue older characters with superlative traits that define their worth or story function. This tendency influences readers’ perceptions of aging, reinforcing stereotypes and shaping expectations—in fiction as in life—about who the elderly are, what they contribute, and how they matter within the broader tapestry of human narrative.