Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

                    Thinking

So. What makes a character "hero-worthy" to you? For me, the male must be strong and not necessarily in physical strength, although that would fit the description inherent in the word "hero". Does he have to be a military character, involved in law enforcement? To whom do you attach the hero status? 

Vince Flynn's creation of Mitch Rapp is, for me, the ultimate hero. He's been an assassin, an operative, a man who decided early on in learning his craft the difference between good and evil and maintained peace with his line of work because of it. He was not without emotion and rarely did he display any vulnerability, but once in a great while it showed up.

I do think on rare occasions ordinary people achieve heroism, but it's more difficult for the untrained to do heroic things. In a story a good author could make that one everyday character step up out of necessity, but laying the groundwork for the character to make him/her capable of exceptional conduct would have to be done well and convincingly – not always an easy task when discussing heroics. 

Your thoughts?

 

Father, you're the ultimate hero offering rescue from the sins that so easily consume us. You gave us Jesus and in Him is salvation, forgiveness, and amazing grace. As always, thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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4 responses to “Thursday Thoughts . . .”

  1. BK Jackson Avatar
    BK Jackson

    Hmmm…you got me thinking whether I’d read a book where the hero had an ordinary job/everyday life as we currently know it. Something may come to me later but I can’t think of one right now. Even in the highly unusual for me reading of modern fiction, the protag is a female & a county sheriff, so definitely not ordinary.
    As the song says, my heroes have always been cowboys, like Zane Grey’s “Nevada” Jim Lacy.
    As for my own writing, my heroes tend to be historical jacks of all trades–the character I am percolating in my brain for a series has been in the military, a spy (in the 19th century context), a writer, freighter, etc. My heroes are very independent, naturally have a code of ethics, they follow conventions but deviate when they need to evoke change. I think for me being a hero means having something to conquer–probably why I generally don’t read modern fiction.

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  2. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    I usually associate heroism with folks in law enforcement. As you said, they don’t have to have physical strength. I’m always impressed with the attitude of giving of self, working long hours, etc., to “catch the killer”.

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  3. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar

    You make excellent points, Brenda. Independence and code of ethics are tangible and real in the “accepted” norm for heroes. Even with love interests, heroes must maintain certain independence. And deviation from “conventions” seems to differentiate them from the “the norm”.
    J.A. Jance has written a good (and long running) female heroine in her sheriff as has Sibella Giorello although Raleigh Harmon in all her strengths is more vulnerable than most emotionally. Somehow in crises, as all heroes must do, she exercises her honed strengths and conquers her demons. I think all heroes need a “supreme” purpose which is what makes them dig deep for their exceptional approaches and use of skills. That purpose gives them a “conquering” attitude.
    There’s a scene in the season premiere of NCIS-LA this year where two of the “heroes” (Callen and Sam) are severely wounded. Callen can hardly breathe (punctured lung from assumed broken ribs) and Sam’s bleeding out from a gun shot wound to the thigh. Callen, hardly able to muster the breath to talk, says, “We’ve been in worse”, but Sam gives him a look of “When?” So Callen revises his statement and says, “We’ve had a good run.” Sam agrees. It’s an heroic moment between warriors who’ve dedicated their lives to the purpose of doing good. It’s powerful and meaningful. And exemplifies the heroism needed to do the kinds of things heroes do.

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  4. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar

    Yes, the purpose of doing and serving definitely comprise the definition of heroes, Deb.

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