Writers, Let Me Ask You a Question...

[queenoftheskies]

In your opinion, what makes a hero/heroine heroic?

I'm interested in seeing all the different types of opinions people have.

My oldest son and I have discussed this at great length recently, and I'm just curious how other people view this.

Thanks.

Comments

[tryslora]

IMO, a hero does what needs to be done without worrying about how it affects himself (for good or bad).

[dragonmyst.livejournal.com]

Saving something/someone. Putting their lives on the line for someone else and not making a big deal about it later. The first thing that comes to mind actually is a Firefighter (9/11 )

Of course in the writing world the main male character is usally refered to as a hero *grin* but I don't think thats what you are refering to...

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

I edited my entry to read hero/heroine, since I do intend the question to apply to both.

[dragonmyst.livejournal.com]

ahhh!!!

I think overall it is someone who moves beyond their own concern for themselves and tries to achieve some good thing for the greater good if you know what I mean. For some reason Spock from The Wrath of Khan comes to mind. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one..

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

It always goes back to Star Trek! *g*

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

Not sure my view of heroes is the same one other people hold.

For me, a hero is an ordinary person doing extraordinary things in extraordinary circumstances. That is what makes a hero for me, rising to the occasion, doing things they never thought they were capable of doing and maybe overcoming a little terror to get there.

[spaceoperadiva.livejournal.com]

My favorite Everyman hero is Bruce Willis in Die Hard.

[terri-osborne.livejournal.com]

Being willing to step up and do what's necessary in a given situation. That could be anything from a man giving up his seat on the subway for a pregnant woman (as noted in the movie While You Were Sleeping), to the typical "save the universe" scenario that we're used to associating with heroes.

I have a very wide definition of "hero," and I openly admit that I'm quite partial to heroes that aren't the square-jawed, boy-next-door, squeaky clean type. Matter of fact, I find those characters quite boring. I like my heroes to have a darker edge, not quite anti-hero, but close. Definitely not your typical "hero" stereotype.

[shanrina.livejournal.com]

I tend to think heroes are born, not made, and it's just a matter of them winding up in situations where they can be heroic. Heroes have something inside of them that leads them down the path of the Greater Good, some instinct that makes them stand their ground when anyone with an ounce of common sense would run. I tend to think of heroes in broad, saving-the-world terms, but the selflessness necessary for this probably also manifests itself in much smaller ways since not many people get the chance to save the world. :)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what you said. I don't think *everyone* has that heroic streak or instinct. The "heroic act" is simply outside of certain people's reaction/thought patterns. To do the heroic thing would never even occur to them because they aren't wired that way. Probably because they have more common sense. *grin*

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Heroism, for me, is doing the right thing even when it's totally in your interest not to. Bravery is by no means required, but determination probably helps. (More often than not, my heroes would rather be home in bed than doing what they do.)

[kythiaranos.livejournal.com]

To me, heroism has an element of sacrifice to it--not just doing the right thing, but doing the right thing even when it's not the easy thing. Maybe even when nobody knows but the hero/ine him/herself. If that makes sense.

[crossbow1.livejournal.com]

Self-sacrifice. Without whining.

[fjm.livejournal.com]

Diana Wynne Jones has this to say.

I think a hero is someone who acts against their own self interest to do something which will cost them hugely, but would cost the other person more, if they didn't do it.

[evilmissbecky.livejournal.com]

Sacrifice. I think it's boring when a character faces no adversity, when he has everything and has to give up nothing in order to beat the baddy/save the world/win the girl/be the hero. I love when the hero is faced with an agonizingly difficult decision, when either choice is going to result in pain for him.

Honor/nobility. Heroes come from all over, but I must confess I prefer mine with a streak of honor.

[ryan-howse.livejournal.com]

I agree completely with bachsoprano.

Fear is a weapon. Bravery is a weapon. Hate is a weapon. Love is a weapon. Lust is a weapon. Apathy is a weapon. Hunger is a weapon. Characters will be several of these at one time.

Find their flaws.

Make them break.

Because if they're heroes...they can rebuild from that. They have to rebuild from that.

If they don't break, they might be fine people...but they won't be heroes. Not in any sense that means a thing to me.

[daveamongus.livejournal.com]

I pointed this story out in my LJ yesterday, but to me, this is heroism defined (http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060727/NEWS10/607270359/1002). Not just the sacrifice, of course. The sacrifice is essential, but added to it the acceptance of the sacrifice, the consequences of the heroic act. And I think consequences are key when it comes to heroism. There's a price to be paid and the real hero is the one who accepts it and pushes on.

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

OMG. Thank you so much for sharing that story!

Interesting question...

[seawasp]

Heroes do what is right to the best of their ability, in circumstances where doing the right thing is difficult and dangerous. They recognize when they are making mistakes (as opposed to being impervious to the idea that they may not be right), and try to fix the mistakes they make. They may be scared by something, but they are not intimidated into changing their minds about what is right or wrong. They are willing to die if necessary in order to make things right.

[storytellersjem.livejournal.com]

Sacrifice, especially on a Judeo-Christian level.

On a broader level, I would say a hero inspires those who are around him/her.

[icepicklobotomy.livejournal.com]

One who goes out of his/her normal comfort zone to achieve something primarily or mainly for the comfort/best interests of others.

More or less. :)

[andelku.livejournal.com]

I don't know what hero is.

My favorite "heroes" are the Londo Mollari/Oskar Schindler variety - ordinary people, perhaps even villains, who end up doing the right thing out of a core of common decency.

I think whenever someone looks up from what they think they ought to be and operates from that core of decency, that is an ultimate form of heroism. I think it is especially true (and dramatically appealing) when being decent is in conflict with what the world defines, when they have to do what is *wrong* (illegal, immoral, crazy) to do what is good.