Unofficial H&V Newsletter Discuss Forum

I couldn't agree more. A protagonist is simply the main character, no function directly associated with his/her role in the story. Now when we say hero, certain preconceived ideas define the role this character will play. It's like saying that piece of fruit is an apple, then turning around and saying all fruit are apples. It doesn't compute.

Though I do disagree with one comment you made:

What makes a hero is someone who is willing to save the day without breaking the regular laws.

What about characters like Jack Reacher or Indiana Jones who break laws right and left but are justified by the 'greater' good of their actions. I don't think laws make the hero but our perception of right and wrong and what is justifiable in the situation. In Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Childs, Reacher walked up to a man who was trapped in the seat of a crashed helicopter and snapped his neck without a second thought. The man had no way of defending himself. And as a reader it felt right and justified. I think I even smiled in delight. Heroes live by laws un to themselves. I think its up to the author to convince the reader that this heroic code feels justified and even necessary.

How many so called heroes have gunned down the lowly security guard just trying to do his job and just happens to be working for the bad guy. I can't count the number of lowly nobodies who die at the hand of heroic characters. But these characters are not anti-heroes but full fledged heroes. (Sorry this point is a personal pet peeve of mine and should be stricken from the official record.) My point is to write responsibly. Hollywood forgets this more often than not. And the careless use of firearms by trained professions in crowded areas is another pet peeve but that is a discussion for another day.