Tag: heroism

Some stories just stick around forever, don’t they? Wherever you go, there they are. A whole bunch of archetypes filling up the library. Some narratives have that special something we call “universal appeal.” They don’t fade away, they never become dated, they just multiply and assume new incarnations for every generation. There’s a broad appeal in certain stories. It’s an appeal, I think, to basic human desires and emotions. It gives some stories massive, MASSIVE staying power.

Tales of romance are always popular. We all want to love and be loved. On that note, tales of family bonds are warmly received. Coming-of-age stories are told everywhere in some shape or form. Tragedies play with our emotions like a harp. And there are always tales of heroes.

There are some things about human nature that stay constant. One of those is the desire for good to overcome evil. Enter the hero.

Heroes do cool things. They fight bad guys. They save people. They battle impossible odds and win. They ALWAYS win. Usually. Probably. At least, they win when it counts the most.

“Heroes” are different from “protagonists.” A protagonist is the primary character of a story around whom everything revolves and whose goal is the driving force of the plot. A hero, on the other hand, is a protagonist who fights specifically for good. A hero rights wrongs and fixes things that are broken. They’re helpers and defenders. They combat evil. Good guys.

Good and bad. Basic concepts. Powerful concepts. Provocative concepts. Maybe we like to skew around with them. Nothing is as straightforward as good or bad. There are shades of grey. Maybe, but steal a candy bar from a child and then explain to them that there isn’t just good and bad. No? The kid just needs to grow up and appreciate the nuances of life? Alright, get overcharged for a restaurant bill and forced to pay it, then come back and talk to me.

But seriously, heroes embody key values. Everyone has a basic sense of right and wrong, and heroes uphold the right. Virtue, justice, decency, compassion, courage, strength of character.

And no, fighting skill and the ability to punch someone in the face isn’t a required trait. Sure, Luke Skywalker is a hero, but so is Mister Rogers. Both show compassion and forgiveness, don’t they? Robin Hood steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Perry Mason works in the courtroom to defend the falsely accused and catch the perpetrator. Two very different people who both fight for justice. Batman catches crooks. So does Sherlock Holmes. Heroes come in all shapes.

I mentioned in an earlier post about the importance of fairy tales and dragon slayers. Heroes play a key role in those sorts of stories, too. Because there are bad things in the world – monsters, cruel people, injustices, and the like – we enjoy witnessing the defeat of those things. Heroes defeat evil. That’s what heroes do. It’s their job description.

And at the end of the day, heroes are fun. We like heroes. We like seeing them win, and wondering how they’ll win. We like seeing the bad guys lose and lose big. We like happy endings. Real life isn’t all rainbows, but stories help us weather the storms of reality. Heroes have been around for thousands of years. I think we can safely say that they are here to stay.

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