I've seen at least three villian threads since I first got here. So I thought I'd do this. What do you think makes a good Hero? What makes you want to root for them? What makes them so worthy of being the main character?
-
Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
-
CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
What makes a good Hero
- Thread starter NeoScribe
- Start date
Tariel
Reader-Writer-Editor
Ok...looks like I'll be the first to take a stab at this 
I believe that the reader should get a sense of reality from the hero. A good hero is somebody A good hero is somebody that people can relate to; a character that the reader feels that he/she can trust.
And I think that the best heros are the ones with real faults and real struggles. (FWI a fear of spiders does not count, in my opinion).
A hero doesn't have to be perfect (in fact I prefer them not to be) but I like to see him working at it
I believe that the reader should get a sense of reality from the hero. A good hero is somebody A good hero is somebody that people can relate to; a character that the reader feels that he/she can trust.
And I think that the best heros are the ones with real faults and real struggles. (FWI a fear of spiders does not count, in my opinion).
A hero doesn't have to be perfect (in fact I prefer them not to be) but I like to see him working at it
Upvote
0
Lessien
It's what I do that defines me
- Nov 14, 2004
- 14,694
- 233
- 36
- Faith
- Pentecostal
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Others
Yes, exactly. A hero should be someone the reader can relate to and like. The hero should have struggles (other than having to go save the world from an all-powerful evil king). Internal struggles make the story and hero more interesting. And if s/he doesn't completely hate the villain, then that makes him/her an even cooler hero.
As Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus would say, "Take chances! Get messy! Make mistakes!" That applies to your hero, too. Let him go surfing just for the heck of it! Let her come through a 500,000 to 50,000 battle with her hair looking like....well, like she's just been through a 500,000 to 50,000 battle. And for the love of Pete, when you let him make a big mistake, make it something the audiance can relate to *coughEragonaccidentallycursingElvaisnotamistakeIcanrelatetocough*
As Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus would say, "Take chances! Get messy! Make mistakes!" That applies to your hero, too. Let him go surfing just for the heck of it! Let her come through a 500,000 to 50,000 battle with her hair looking like....well, like she's just been through a 500,000 to 50,000 battle. And for the love of Pete, when you let him make a big mistake, make it something the audiance can relate to *coughEragonaccidentallycursingElvaisnotamistakeIcanrelatetocough*
Upvote
0
elf_lady_9
the book loving Elven Calvinist
- Mar 13, 2006
- 889
- 43
- Faith
- Calvinist
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
NeoScribe said:
i agree with everything everybody else said.
i also think that selfless love is a main quality that makes a good hero. i always get more attatched to a character, hero or sidekick, if they have at least one person(human, elf, hobbit, wizard, fairy, dragon, whatever) that they truly care for(not necessarily in a romantic way) and want to fight for and who they are even willing to die for. the character doesn't have to be perfect, but there has to be something that is ultimately more important to them than themselves. he/she can struggle and make mistakes, but if they do mess up they do everything they can to atone for their mistake. and usually in the end, at the crucial moment, the Hero will make the right choice.
Upvote
0
Blessed-one
a long journey ahead
one who solicits sympathy from the readers.
one who makes mistakes, falls again and again, and might even plunge into the depth of hell for a period of time. Scarred... but manages to somehow come back out. Might even die at the end, but that's for the bold author to decide.
One who learns.
one who makes mistakes, falls again and again, and might even plunge into the depth of hell for a period of time. Scarred... but manages to somehow come back out. Might even die at the end, but that's for the bold author to decide.
One who learns.
Upvote
0
JesseRaymondBassett
Follower of the way, the truth, and the life....
Angels Team
CF Senior Ambassador
Site Supporter
- Apr 17, 2004
- 4,539
- 1,655
- 38
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Non-Denom
- Marital Status
- Engaged
- Politics
- US-Democrat
One who shows compassion, loves justice and will do the right thing to see it done....
Upvote
0
Tariel
Reader-Writer-Editor
The reader needs to not only know what the character is feeling, but FEEL what the character is feeling.
(Which means that the character needs feelings that the reader could have. Fear. Anger. Hopelessness. Joy. Excitement. Anticipation. Love. All these and more.)
(Which means that the character needs feelings that the reader could have. Fear. Anger. Hopelessness. Joy. Excitement. Anticipation. Love. All these and more.)
Upvote
0
Bernergirl
Senior Member
Echoing just about everyone else here. Imperfect characters are ones that people can relate to. The challenge for authors is creating a mass of imperfect characters that are imperfect in their own way and not just in the way the author is (you own internal struggles reflect a lot in your characters and your ideology and ideas are a guiding force for your stories; drawing on the experiences of friends and such is a great way to develop more realistic characters).
Upvote
0
Lessien
It's what I do that defines me
- Nov 14, 2004
- 14,694
- 233
- 36
- Faith
- Pentecostal
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Others
So, in other words, use Eragon as a shining example of what not to do while creating a hero. Make him or her likeable, but not someone who always does the right thing, even if it harms him or her. While that is a good trait and something most everyone would want to have, it's not a very human trait. I heard about a book my mom read (forget what it was) where the heroine always forgave everyone who wronged her, no questions asked, very little time involved for healing. While that's admirable, it's not very believeable. Like Tariel said, the reader should get a sense of reality from the hero, meaning that even if your hero is a dragon riding warrior with blue skin and a fear of birds, the reader should be able to relate to his struggles, care about what he cares about, etc.
Make him or her likeable, but not someone who always does the right thing, even if it harms him or her. While that is a good trait and something most everyone would want to have, it's not a very human trait. I heard about a book my mom read (forget what it was) where the heroine always forgave everyone who wronged her, no questions asked, very little time involved for healing. While that's admirable, it's not very believeable. Like Tariel said, the reader should get a sense of reality from the hero, meaning that even if your hero is a dragon riding warrior with blue skin and a fear of birds, the reader should be able to relate to his struggles, care about what he cares about, etc.
Upvote
0
You guys all gave good examples, mistakes, not-perfect, learning, but still tries to do the right thing.
Tariel, Lessien, I just knew you were going to use Eragon as an anti-example. You guys never disappoint, Thanks!
Tariel, Lessien, I just knew you were going to use Eragon as an anti-example. You guys never disappoint, Thanks!
Upvote
0
Just to throw a spanner in the works here (& I have NO idea who Eragon is!) I think a good hero is always flawed - a touch of wickedness does wonders for the reality of a character. Alan Garner does wonders with this whole idea in The Owl Service turning the whole concept of heroism & who is the hero completely on it's head in the final pages. One of the strongest bits of writing I've ever read. Perfection when attempted by humans tends to just end up downright boring & I really object to being bored. I'd rather have a wicked hero than a dull one!
Upvote
0
Lessien
It's what I do that defines me
- Nov 14, 2004
- 14,694
- 233
- 36
- Faith
- Pentecostal
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Others
Yeah. I think that's why people flock to see superhero movies. For example: In the X-Men movies, Wolverine is not perfect. In fact, he's almost the exact opposite. He's rude, sarcastic, and troubled. In the first movie, his motto seems to be "Look out for #1." And yet he's a fan favorite. I think it's because he's so far from perfect at first, but in the later films, he starts genuinely caring for others, but still stays himself. Get what I'm saying here? He didn't become a completely different person, but he DID become a nicer one, while staying flawed.
Upvote
0
One that comes quickly to mind from t.v is Fonzie in Happy Days. He was never meant to be a major character but was incredibly popular with audiences - & he certainly had some less than nice characteristics!
Upvote
0
i'd still like to look at it. call it curiosity. i like knowing what kind of works they're publishing.
call it curiosity. i like knowing what kind of works they're publishing.
Upvote
0
Similar threads
