Qualities of a Hero

[Breakdaddy]

However, there is still a place for the iconic hero, which is what the above describes. These ideals should exist as a goal, rather than a mark to be hit regularly. Being a hero is a journey, not a state of being or a destination, and while you may approach it, very few to none can realistically hit the mark all the time. Heck, Frodo really doesn't, it's dumb luck or divine providence that really saves Middle Earth in the end. But he had a lot of these qualities.

Bravo! Im saddened to see cynicism run so deep (or has it just become "cool" to be cynical these days; I wonder) that people are rolling their eyes just READING about these ideals. A rare individual indeed actually hits many of these marks (think Ghandi) but I think all of these things are things that are worth striving for.

 

[Phaedrus]

Envy. Resentment.

We dislike those who are "too good" because they reveal how non-good we are. Shining a flashlight into our dark closets. They make us uncomfortable. How dare they make me feel less than ideal? How dare they?! Everyone is just as flawed as I am! This person must be a hypocrite! He has a secret sin! He is so arrogant!

And so we belittle and ridicule them. And ultimately we must destroy them.

 

[rbingham2000]

Envy. Resentment.

We dislike those who are "too good" because they reveal how non-good we are. Shining a flashlight into our dark closets. They make us uncomfortable. How dare they make me feel less than ideal? How dare they?! Everyone is just as flawed as I am! This person must be a hypocrite! He has a secret sin! He is so arrogant!

And so we belittle and ridicule them. And ultimately we must destroy them.

This is definitely going in my sig file, as it is particularly telling of why we feel the need to destroy our heroes, which is a major theme in a story that I'm working on.

 

[Bront]

Whilst these are certainly held up as ideals, it is far from the case that these were ever actually exercised in practice consistently. No realistic "hero" would ever encompass all of these qualities .

I could name a few RL examples if you want. However, I don't want this to become a politica debate, so I will refrain unless you truely need them.

I think the problem is that when people look at these ideals, they suddently expect the world from a hero. A hero isn't always those things, but an archtype hero strives to be them. I know that I personaly strive to be those things in my life (I don't always succeed, but it is a goal), and I think that the world would be a better place if more people did.

You can find the archtypal hero in many movies, books, and other creative outlets. And often because they don't start as the archtype, people don't view them as such. Han Solo is probably a good example of someone who eventualy becomes everything that is the archtype hero, but is often viewed as an anti-hero because of his background. Batman generaly holds himself to almost all of these strictures (though he does break them from time to time, but he generaly tries to keep them, though you could argue the honesty due to his secret identity).

It's a more previlant idea than you might think, and at times it can be disguised well.

 

[Ranger REG]

Am I the only one who finds compassion and wisdom to be contradictory? There's nothing wise about compassionately leaving your enemy alive!

If that is the case, why do we need police and the court system?

I mean, I'm all for vigilantism and the "take no prisoner" cause (screw the Geneva Convention), but isn't Humaniti should strive for a better society? (Not that I'm holding my breath.)

 

[WizarDru]

Wow, I didn't think of myself of sentimental nearly so much until I read this thread.

It's worth pointing out, as Henry did, that most of the Fellowship is lacking in some aspect of the ideals listed therein. Boromir certainly had his faults as did Aragorn, Frodo, Legolas and Gimli. All of the Fellowship had their failings...but they still acted heroically when it was asked of them, rising to the challenge. None of the fellowship, not even Aragorn, who is both a king, hero and considered to be from one of the greatest line of men, is lacking in flaws.

And I'd argue the classic hero is still in vogue, honestly. Han Solo isn't a anti-hero, he's just a hero with dirty feet...when push comes to shove, he's a stand-up guy who has your back, he just hates to admit it. Look at Revenge of the Sith....no one really likes Anakin (though they dig Vader...but Anakin is merely tolerated). Most people really like Obi Wan and Yoda as characters, I think. And for that matter, Anakin is a hero who falls from grace, but before he dies, turns back to the light and ultimately redeems himself.

It sounds like some folks have confused Lawful Good with Lawful Stupid, again.

 

[Darkness]

Am I the only one who finds compassion and wisdom to be contradictory? There's nothing wise about compassionately leaving your enemy alive!

Let's see... The possibility of revenge against you and yours is likely lower, you and your allies are less likely to be mistreated (or likely to be less mistreated, as the case may be ) by both these and future enemies, the spared enemy possibly might do you a favor as well in the future, you get better intelligence (or at least you get it easier), and (where applicable) having to treat their wounded costs your enemies time and resources whereas disposing of a corpse costs them next to nothing (and even that only if they have the corpse).

And that's just off the top of my head.

 

[Henry]

...having to treat their wounded costs your enemies time and resources whereas disposing of a corpse costs them next to nothing (and even that only if they have the corpse).

In fact, wasn't that why shotguns were forbidden in the Geneva convention after WW 1 ?

 

[Corvidae]

a hero is not one who does extraordinary things, but one who does ordinary things in extraordinary ways

I really think that even with the qualities that every human has to deal with, fallen nature, and what not, and yet strives for heroism, it isn't necesarily where you are hitting, it is where you are aiming.

When you start out in archery, you are going to miss, but to move the bullseye to where you are hitting is ridiculous, and to enlarge the bullseye is ludicrous as well. Yes there is evil, and not everyone will have the same idea for ridding the world of evil, but for those who continue to aim at the bullseye, these are heroes.

Heroes can be from many stripes and in many ways. Some may be too jaded for compasion, but this is not what they would strive for if they thought that they could be compassionate.
I think what makes a hero is overcoming faults, and really making a realisitic hero is not about making a cookie cutter copy of some other hero, but to look at a character, look at goals motivations and what not, and say, what is virtue.

 

[The Shaman]

Am I the only one who finds compassion and wisdom to be contradictory? There's nothing wise about compassionately leaving your enemy alive!

Yeah, where's the part about torching baby goblins?

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I think this is outstanding - it's how heroes should be played. That doesn't mean they don't mess up once in awhile, but this is what they should strive for.

Excellent. Most excellent.