Who do you consider an Anti-Hero in fiction?

[sckeener]

How does that, in any way, make him an anti-hero? He's less herioc because his only concern is catching bad guys and making sure no other little boy has to lose thier parents? Your logic escapes me, here.

It was just my personal view of him. I view him as broken and less human. I view wanting a normal life to be heroic. Some would say being a police man (or firefighter) is heroic. For me that one aspect isn't enough. If the person was always there for their family and was a cop (or fireman) then yes, they are heroic. I guess it is the difference between superman and batman for me. I see superman as wanting a normal life, but can't.

 

[Umbran]

This isn't about gaming. Moved to the Media Lounge.

 

[Merkuri]

Perhaps controversially, I would add Dr Hannibal Lecter as portrayed in the movie Silence of the Lambs.

Hrm... I see him more as a villan who begrudgingly helps the hero. Were he free, I doubt he'd be helping anyone catch a killer. The only "noble" thing he does is give information. Talking about how one performs evil acts doesn't really make him an anti-hero, IMO.

 

[sckeener]

Perhaps controversially, I would add Dr Hannibal Lecter as portrayed in the movie Silence of the Lambs.

Hrm... I see him more as a villan who begrudgingly helps the hero. Were he free, I doubt he'd be helping anyone catch a killer. The only "noble" thing he does is give information. Talking about how one performs evil acts doesn't really make him an anti-hero, IMO.

Maybe. He basically was an antihero up until he escaped. He could still be used as an example for an RPG of an anti-hero. I think Belkar is an antihero. Belkar Bitterleaf from Order of the Stick is a pyscho but constrained.

So as long as your RPG anti-hero was constrained in some way, he could be as pyscho as Hannibal.

 

[Hussar]

Hannibal Lechter isn't an anti-hero as much as a straight up villain. He only helps to escape. And, he isn't so much interested in helping as just wanting a chance to get out. Helping Jodie Foster's character is not going to make him a hero. A more interesting villain perhaps, but, certainly not a hero.

Belkar I would buy as an anti-hero. If only because he is one of the protagonists in the story. Then again, in comedy, it's a little trickier to pin down.

I would also like to withdraw what I said about Sharpe. Sharpe's a hero plain and simple. Perhaps a little dirtier sort of hero like Indiana Jones, but a hero nonetheless.

Something to remember about anti-heroes is that they are EVIL. They are not just a dirtier sort of white knight, but rather someone who is no better than the villains he defeats.

 

[Filby]

Something to remember about anti-heroes is that they are EVIL. They are not just a dirtier sort of white knight, but rather someone who is no better than the villains he defeats.

I don't necessarily agree with that. I wouldn't call the Punisher or John Constantine evil, just a very underhanded kind of neutral.

I also consider unwilling heroes who don't give a crap about their cause (not well-meaning ones like Frodo Baggins), like Thomas Covenant, Shinji Ikari, and Arthur Dent, to be anti-heroes.