Second, where are the women? Seriously! I'll blog about that on that on Friday.
I pulled five heros from here and posted them below.
1. Indiana Jones
2. Han Solo
3. Robin Hood
4. Obi-Wan Kenobi
5. Batman
Now, think about it. All of these guys can really kick some butt. And half of them, we don't know if they're good or bad... they're kind of in between (Robin Hood robs, Batman lives in a secret cave and attacks people in dark alleys, Han Solo's only helping for money).
So what makes them heros? Is it the fact that they choose to use their dark talents for good? The fact that they kick butt? The fact that they risk their lives for others? What is it?
What heros do you love? Love to hate?
What makes your hero better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual?
15 comments:
I think what makes a hero is that they use their talents for good.
I have a lot of favorite Hero's, from a variety of sources. One from the books that I'm reading right now is Roland, from the Dark Tower Series, as he is a hero, but not really for the good of mankind, only because of Ka, and every good act he does, leads him closer to his goal.
My here is actually relevant to your question of why aren't there more female hero's. As she is a 16 year old girl, with telekinesis, who has to save her clairvoyant brother from becoming her worst enemy. That's her goal, but as the story goes along, she learns of an injustice that needs to be corrected as well.
So there you have it.
All I have to say is: Zena, Warrior Princess. Juuuuuuuuust saying.
This year I started a series for my blog called A Hero's Journey in which I have highlighted everyone from literary heroes (Gilgamesh et al), a son of slaves who founded a dominant international religious movement, a female singer/political resister, Nelson Mandela etc. Heroes come in all sizes and types. They may simply be ordinary people called by circumstances to perform extraordinary things. We all have the capacity for heroism. Our literary characters can be both villains and heroes,though I suspect the more interesting ones have a little of both. Here is the link to my posts so far this year in my A Hero's Journey blog series:
http://judithmercadoauthor.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Hero%27s%20Journey
For me, what makes a great hero is someone who puts themselves at risk to help someone else.
The ultimate hero for me has to have a dark side. That's what makes us fall for the hero isn't it? But when push comes to shove they put others first instead of themselves.
Great Post! I look forward to Friday's blog.
Wow, so many different qualities make up a hero in my mind. Oooh, but if I had to choose, risking their lives for others sounds the most heroic to me. Such as, no matter how wrong they go about expressing that quality, at least their hearts and intentions are in the right place, LOL.
One of my favorite heroes for years has been The Doctor from Doctor Who. When he's around, everything seems like it's going to be okay despite how bad the situation seems. :D Though I do have a huge love for the complex antiheroes too, the ones with tons of layers to their characters, I love them~
Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler...flawed beings both, and yet at the end I was so sad when they didn't end up together...
Women heroes:
1. Wonder Woman
2. Joan of Arc
3. Gemma Doyle
4. Charlotte (to Wilbur)
5. Arwen
6. Eowin
7. Galadrial
8. Hermione
I recognized a lot more (meaning all) of the names posted today than the villains.
I think what makes a hero good is their DESIRE to do good, and not just for the fame. To prove my point, I'm going to quote WICKED, the musical. The song "No Good Deed." She says, "One question haunts...Was I really seeking good or just seeking attention?"
So, it boils down to that. That and, as you said, the hero using their dark talents for the greater good.
To quote every spidery boy's favorite uncle:
"With great power comes great responsibility."
Great question! I think heroes are often people who have tempting reasons for choosing the 'dark side', but who have the moral strength to make the right choice instead.
No one mentioned Katniss from Hunger Games - she's awesome. I also think Dashti from Book of a Thousand Days is a hero.
One of my new heroes is Daniel Craig's character in Defiance. Someone who showed extraordiary courage and leadership during extraordinarily trying times.
Hm... I think that's interesting that most of the time Hero's live on that edge between light and dark...
I'm going with Mary M. on this one. 'Greater love hath no man, than he who lays down his life for a friend." Even a villain can turn hero in a moment of selfless sacrifice.
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