Clear
Hope
Name: Hope Estheim
Japanese name: ホープ・エストハイム
Age: 14
Occupation: Student [presumably]
Hometown: Palumpolum
Height: 5'0" (1.53m)
Weapon: Boomerang
Seiyuu: Yuki Kaji
Voice actor: Vincent Martella
Hope is a young boy who got caught up in the Purge by chance. He was visiting Bodhum with his mother on vacation; his father was meant to join them, but cancelled at the last minute due to work. Scared and uncertain, Hope sticks close to his mother during the Purge until they escape the train and reach a group resisting the Sanctum's soldiers and military creatures.
His mother, Nora, decides to take up arms against the Sanctum, and dies protecting Snow in the ensuing battle. Hope blames Snow for her death, and, encouraged by Vanille, follows him into the Pulse Vestige to confront him. Before he can find the courage to do so, though, he is branded a l'Cie with the rest.
In the years since FFXIII's release, I've seen a number of negative reactions to Hope's story, most of which dismiss him as a "whiny kid." This will be addressed in the depth section at a later date.
Gameplay
I often use Hope in my party; with his default roles of Ravager, Synergist, and Medic, he's an excellent support character, and the best mage to boot. Really, he and Vanille are interchangable in a party configuration; it's just a queston if you want a Synergist or a Saboteur, and most of the time you'll want a Synergist. It does take Hope a while to learn the better Synergist spells, but a party of Lightning/Hope/Fang will get you through the main story with few issues.
Vidofnir is a good base for Hope's weapon, as it boosts the length of the buffs he bestows. His Eidolon is Alexander; I don't think I've ever even summoned it.