Good good guys
Apr. 14th, 2007 09:57 pmThere's another definition problem with reluctant heroes, and whenever the subject comes up, it seems to get bogged down in trying to work out what exactly is a reluctant hero. So I want to avoid that.
In some ways you could say a 'reluctant hero' is a true hero. They're doing the job because it has to be done and they're the one to do it, rather than being motivated by glory or possible rewards or some less-heroic thoughts. Or they're someone who happens to be in the right place at the wrong time and does the best they can.
On the other hand, they don't become widely know, as least not as reluctant heroes. I think it's not seen as heroic to be do something because you're forced into it or you happen to be the best there is at the time. Real Heroes are inherently Heroic or they're acting from Heroic motivations. Reluctance is not a heroic trait. Or maybe it implies ordinariness, which h(I am not going to write that word again)s can't be. They're special and better than an ordinary person.
This would help if I could think of some example of youknowwhats.
In fiction it seems to be "I don't want to do this, oh, yes I do, I was just being modest", or something. OK that's a bit exaggerated, but fictional protagonists do seem to rush in eagerly enough after the first hesitation.
At which point, you're probably thinking of plenty of counter-examples. I know there are some, but I can't of any at the moment. Offer up a few and I'll see if that shakes loose any more thoughts on the topic. Or some real life, well known ones.
In some ways you could say a 'reluctant hero' is a true hero. They're doing the job because it has to be done and they're the one to do it, rather than being motivated by glory or possible rewards or some less-heroic thoughts. Or they're someone who happens to be in the right place at the wrong time and does the best they can.
On the other hand, they don't become widely know, as least not as reluctant heroes. I think it's not seen as heroic to be do something because you're forced into it or you happen to be the best there is at the time. Real Heroes are inherently Heroic or they're acting from Heroic motivations. Reluctance is not a heroic trait. Or maybe it implies ordinariness, which h(I am not going to write that word again)s can't be. They're special and better than an ordinary person.
This would help if I could think of some example of youknowwhats.
In fiction it seems to be "I don't want to do this, oh, yes I do, I was just being modest", or something. OK that's a bit exaggerated, but fictional protagonists do seem to rush in eagerly enough after the first hesitation.
At which point, you're probably thinking of plenty of counter-examples. I know there are some, but I can't of any at the moment. Offer up a few and I'll see if that shakes loose any more thoughts on the topic. Or some real life, well known ones.
