We once read a book called "Feed" in high school - a ham fisted anti-capitalist book. Wherein citizens are 100% connected to an internet like service that only exists to sell them products. 90% of the class couldnt get it. Even when the teacher sat down and explained the entire plot of the book they still couldnt wrap their head around it.
Now see, in the Belgariad books the characters are self-aware enough to understand they they're channeling archetypes and lean into their roles as enthusiastically as possible. A knight stops a battle from happening by punching the enemy commander off of his horse during negotiations, it's amazing.