Being the Hero

First off, it must be said that the good hero is not good for the sake of being good; I am not saying that this is not possible. Much like the villain there are more complexities to the hero.

I want to start this off talking about the good hero since I mentioned them in my previous piece on becoming the villain. Most people will tell you that writing the goody two shoes hero is easy; I want to say that this is quite the opposite. Writing the good hero is quite difficult. It is easier to write the flawed hero because they are flawed; and they will fall at one point or another. That’s not to say that the good hero can’t fall but it’s important that he doesn’t. So the good hero is constantly working on doing the right thing because it’s the “right thing to do”.

The good hero never sees themselves as such. The title is usually given to them by others. Pretty much thrusted upon them and it is not usually a compliment. I know your asking now what do you mean?

Usually the title is given to someone to place them more as a mockery or put them on a pedestal so they can fall/fail. People will sit, watch and wait for the hero to fall so they can say… “see he wasn’t that good… see I knew there was something wrong with them”… she thinks she’s better than us…

Let’s bring back Lex Luthor he never accepts Superman's goody two shoe title. He mocks him as the Big Blue Boy Scout yet at no moment does he believe that they are. The thought for Luthor is that Superman is a threat that the good act is just that an act. Luthor can’t accept it cause he himself is flawed and does bad things; so in turn Superman has to be flawed. It is complete projection. It’s the question of, if I had that power what would I do?

I think this projected thinking is of most individuals when they meet up with someone who is considered too good or they have labeled them as “too good”. They can’t be better than me and since I’m flawed; they must be flawed too. There is truth that the good hero is flawed but they do everything in their being to rise above and stay on the heroic road; they make a choice. They have chosen a path and choose everyday to stay on that path no matter what comes their way. I find this is what makes the true good character more complex because this turmoil…this fight is constantly happening and they choose to do what’s right; when it would be easy to bend, fold and get rid of their morals.

Captain America stands for the ideals of America he believes in them to the point that he will go against country if it means breaking his code. He will fight for them and the freedoms of others.

Just as Superman believes in truth, justice and the American way. Again, this hero will stand against what he thinks is wrong even if it puts him against country. His core values of helping people is always present. One of my favorite things would be to watch enemies use this against him. They would put someone in danger and he would choose to rescue them. He would fight constantly worried about the people caught in the middle of it.

Spider-Man‘s “With great power comes great responsibility” an Uncle Ben lesson he learned the hard way. One that he keeps to heart and always does his best to honor. Choosing to do the right thing because doing nothing is not an option; and doing nothing can be also the wrong thing.

I’ve seen people do this to others where they actively try to disprove the goodness or greatness of others. They become villains to this perceived hero. They plan their downfall and do down right evil things to destroy them. Here we see the hero creating their villain.

As the joker is constantly trying to make the Dark Knight Fall to destroy them or show that they are as bad as everyone else. Two sides of the same coin constantly stuck in a macabre dance with each other.

Alright let’s dive in and see what we can show.

Marie goes to an office for a job interview. She thinks it goes well and is happy with herself as she leaves. On her way out she runs into Karen who gives Marie a dirty look. Karen walks Marie to the door says

“You think you’re so special.” then slams the door behind Marie as she walks out of the

office.

It’s a simple set up but we can already see lines drawn.

Marie starts working at the office and Karen has already decided who Marie is, what’s she’s up to, what shes doing. So immediately she starts working towards poisoning the coworkers against her. Telling them about her at least her version of who she is.

Marie can go a couple of different directions with her antagonist. We will go with her ignoring her and just trying to do her job.

Marie through all this is just being a good worker she helps her coworkers does her job and goes above and beyond. She is good at her job and enhances the work place.

This in turn infuriates Karen more. How dare she do a good job. How dare she be a nice person. How dare she work well with the bosses.

Now if the coworkers are paying attention they will pick up on the fact that the Marie that Karen says she is and the Marie that they see are two totally different people.

Example

Karen tells Jules

“All Marie cares about is herself. She’s just trying to make sure the bosses love her.”

“She’s actually in a secret relationship with one of the bosses and that’s why she is getting preferential treatment.”

“She’s has something against me and is trying to make me look bad.”

“If we can get rid of her all the bad things happening at the job will stop.”

The funny thing is that Marie only took this job as a stepping stone to better things. So the more Karen messes with her the longer Marie needs to stay in order to accomplish what she is working on. If Karen had just let her be she would have been gone.

Not that Karen would allow that for you see this type of villain does not want the hero to get good things. Karen wants Marie to suffer wants to destroy her to make herself feel better or show that the world is just like she says it is.

The more good that Marie does the angrier it makes Karen. So Marie being her kind self, helping people, doing her job efficiently, getting along with coworkers and bosses becomes a problem.

The whole time Marie is having self doubt. Trying to keep herself in check from doing something that she will regret. Suffering through the trials and tribulations of her own life. Getting frustrated that she can not accomplish the goals. Yet through all this Marie chooses to do good to be the good person.

My favorite quote about good men is from Doctor who. It really showcases the hero.

The villain says,

"The anger of a good man is not a problem. Good men have too many rules"

To witch the doctor answers

"Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many"

The choice to do good to be better to do what’s right.

That’s why I like Superman because with all that power he chooses to do good. The Good hero chooses to do what’s right.

All the other hero’s do so as well but the Good hero does their best to not fall to be good.

The flawed hero usually falls to their flaws but still over comes still does the right thing.

These heroes have a flaw that can destroy them. It can lead to their downfall if left unchecked or they do not rise above them.

Tony Stark is self absorbed thinks first of himself and always thinks he’s right. Yet he rises above these things to do the right thing.

Batman is consumed by vengeance and usually his every action is based on it. Yet he does have a heart even if he doesn’t always show it. He also rises above this to do the right thing. He is also charitable and tries to make a difference in the world.

Jonah can not fathom why he would be sent to talk to people he considers less than. He does not want to go spread the good word to these people. His fall gets him swallowed by a whale. He does eventually go and do what he has been asked to do.

Let’s go back to Marie let’s say she has had to deal with this type of behavior from people all her life. The more she is pushed the more likely she is to lose her temper. Karen in her constant persecution is finally able to anger Marie. Marie explodes making a scene telling off Karen. This proves Karen’s point and hurts Marie in the long run. Her temper is her flaw and it gets her in trouble.

The anti hero does the right thing but it’s usually because they are forced in one way or another to rise and do so. Or because they are ant to or maybe their just being petty about it.

Deadpool does what Deadpool wants. Their reasons for doing the right thing are from petty to it suits their interests. They will also accomplish it by their methods and may go against society and its norms.

Harley Quinn also does what Harley wants. She might do the right thing and it might even be for the right reason. Yet in all possibilities it’s usually for her own twisted values. Or just cause she feels like it at that moment.

King David says he is a follower of God but is adulterous and a murderer. His fall is deep and could lead to his destruction.

Going back to Marie as an example, let’s say she could give a flying fuck about the people, the job or any of it. When Karen comes at her Marie goes at her with reckless abandon. Karen does something to Marie, Marie does it right back or worse. Marie would be willing to burn down the whole office to bring Karen down or teach her a lesson.

People tend to like and work with both of these hero types cause they tend to see themselves in them or find them more realistic. As per what we’ve been discussing this far.

As you can see it’s just variations of the hero. Your hero can land anywhere on this spectrum. Or you can even take the hero’s journey and bring them to other levels or even Villainy.

Anakin Skywalker starts his journey as the hero but his flaw, his fear of losing his loved ones leads him to lose it all and his loved ones on the journey. Leading him to do things to try and keep them safe but in the end causing what he fears.

The hero is complex, their reason is varied, their struggle gives them meaning or leads them to fall. In the end the good hero will rise above these trials and tribulations. The flawed hero may fall but they will get back up to try and rise. The anti hero will do what they want and how they want to hopefully rise.

All the heroes rise above to do the right thing.

We come back full circle the hero’s journey will lead either to Being the hero or Becoming the villain.