This question is for ‘hero’ in all forms: realistic, fiction, superhero, comic book, anime, etc. Let’s say a person is flawed, or is very arrogant, or has a superiority complex, etc., but also does heroic things—like being a firefighter, doctor, wizard, superhero, whatever. Do you think that person is still a hero despite having negative personality traits?
Gonna echo the other folks here - heroism does not require perfection. Everyone you can think of as a hero has a flaw (or several), big or small.
The upside to this is that heroism is accessible to almost everyone. Any opportunity you have to do the right, but difficult (and tbh sometimes not all that difficult, perhaps just uncomfortable or risky), thing is the chance to be a hero to someone in some respect. The downside is that people you may admire as heroes, when you meet them as just people, can sometimes be disappointing.
The only flawless heroes are superheros (and even then, few are written about like that these days). Think about that prefix- how are the terms superhero and supernatural alike?
Doesn’t have to be and in stories its absolutely boring. The wheel of time has a quite great example of a hero that is far from being perfect. The main character has to save the world but due to him being the chosen one he develops quite the superiority complex and becomes arrogant (which is also because kings bow before him) this inner conflict of being absolutely flawed and his duty to save the world largely contributes to the storyline being literally the best book I have ever read. I can only recommend it (but be aware, the whole story is 11.000 pages long)
Of course not.
If a fictional character is a perfect hero, then you’re either writing for five year olds or a terrible author.
Of course no person is perfect, and in literature a perfect person would be boring.
In my view, anyone who does something selfless that really helps other people or person, because they see the need to help, is a hero. They don’t need to be good in every other way. Just that they use their powers for good.
Villians can be nice, too. With some fatal flaw that causes great harm.
Only one of us was perfect, and I ain’t HIM (His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I)
Colossus: Four or five moments - that’s all it takes to become a hero. Everyone thinks it’s a full-time job. Wake up a hero. Brush your teeth a hero. Go to work a hero. Not true. Over a lifetime there are only four or five moments that really matter. Moments when you’re offered a choice to make a sacrifice, conquer a flaw, save a friend - spare an enemy. In these moments everything else falls away…
No. It just means he’s gotta be strong and he’s gotta be fast and he’s gotta be fresh from a fight.
Doesn’t the need to specify those in addition (“and he’s gotta be …”) mean those are characteristics that aren’t necessarily inherent to being a hero?
I don’t know how to grapple with the semantics of it all when he also gotta be sure and It’s gotta be soon and He’s gotta be larger than life.
This is the best answer.
fictional heroes can be perfect, real “heroes” are always flawed.
Mahatma Gandhi supposedly did some weird thing where he is said to have slept naked with young girls, including his niece. 🧐
I personally don’t idolize people, but rather commend them for their specific actions.
Nobody is perfect. Not even heroes. Not even fictional heroes.
It’s dangerous to put people on a pedestal. A lot of good happens because someone who isn’t perfect decided to do something good that day
No, it just means you are someone that helps others, even when you know that you won’t gain anything from that yourself.
A hero is only a hero from one perspective. There was a movie in '92 called Hero that sort of explores this a bit. It’s not a great movie, but it has a sort of scummy guy do something great and a sort of OK guy do something scummy.
No such thing as a perfect person. We are all flawed in some way
The theme song from Mighty Mouse gives the description of a hero that I subscribe to. A hero is someone who is there to save the day when someone really needs saving. Anyone can be a hero if they answer the call when fate provides them the need for one.
Mister Trouble never hangs around When he hears this Mighty sound. "Here I come to save the day" That means that Mighty Mouse is on the way. Yes sir, when there is a wrong to right Mighty Mouse will join the fight. On the sea or on the land, He gets the situation well in hand So though we are in danger, we never despair Cause we know that where there's danger he is there! (He is there, on the land, on the sea, in the air!) We're not worrying at all We're just listening for his call “Here I come, to save the day!” That means that Mighty Mouse Is on the way! We're not worrying at all We're just listening for his call “Here I come, to save the day!” That means that Mighty Mouse Is on the way! source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/mightymouselyrics.htmlDude. For some reason Underdog got mixed up with Mighty Mouse in my head and I could not figure out wtf you were on about. It took me a full minute to have this all click.
That will depend on your values and culture. In ancient greece, heroes were warriors that killed many or defeated impossible odds. Now it is usually about self sacrifice or saving many people. Some people see humble hard workers as heroes. Though that also has an element of self sacrifice.
