What makes a hero?

Good question. While lots of different characters can have prominent roles and do heroic things, I think “the hero” of the story almost has to be the protagonist, pretty much as Merriam Webster defines it: “Protagonist – the chief character of a novel or story in or around whom the action centers. ”

I think if the chief character is villainous, then yes, he or she would be the hero, or more appropriately, the antihero. Thomas Covenant comes to mind. The foil in either case would be the antagonist.

There aren't very many people in life who think of themselves as villains. My “evil-doer” very well may be someone else's hero. It's all in your point of view. Fortunately in writing the author, if he or she knows what they are doing, controls the overall point of view.

But this just talks about who the hero is, not your main question of what makes a hero. To me, the hero has to be the central active player. The key word here is active. They have to take direct action to control, or attempt to control, their own destiny. That pretty well meshes with Jack Welch's notion.

I also think that heroes have to be both vulnerable and believable. Of course vulnerability breeds believability, so they go hand-in-glove. If there is no risk to the hero then they are not acting heroic, they are simply taking action. The risk does not have to be physical. It can be emotional or psychological. But without risk, there is no drama.

I think passive characters, no matter how well developed, who simply let things happen, cannot be the hero.

~jon

 
~jon
My Blog - Mad Utopia Writing in a new era.