Reluctant hero

The reluctant hero is a heroic archetype found in fiction. The reluctant hero is typically portrayed either as an everyman forced into surreal situations which require them to rise to heroism, or as a person with special abilities who nonetheless evinces a desire to avoid using those abilities for the benefit of others. In either case, the reluctant hero does not initially seek adventure or the opportunity to do good, and their apparent selfishness may draw them into the category of antiheroes. The reluctant hero differs from the antihero in that the story arc of the former inevitably results in their becoming a true hero.

For the 1951 film, see Reluctant Heroes.

In many stories, the reluctant hero is portrayed as having a period of doubt after their initial venture into heroism. This may be brought about by the negative consequences of their own heroic actions, or by the achievement of some position of personal safety - leaving the audience to wonder whether the reluctant hero will return to heroism at the moment when they're needed the most.

Quotes

A summary of the archetype:

"A reluctant hero is a tarnished or ordinary man with several faults or a troubled past, and he is pulled reluctantly into the story, or into heroic acts. During the story, he rises to the occasion, sometimes even vanquishing a mighty foe, sometimes avenging a wrong. But he questions whether he's cut out for the hero business. His doubts, misgivings, and mistakes add a satisfying layer of tension to a story".[1]

Another commentator notes, with respect to game design:

The wonderful aspect of a reluctant hero is that he or she doesn't have to adhere to any stereotype, such as being incredibly strong or a trained kung-fu master. These can be average guys off the street; indeed, it's often their simple, homespun down-to-earth thinking that saves the day. This ordinariness is an important factor in allowing the audience to understand and bond with the hero.[2]

Examples

In fiction
  • In the movie Die Hard, Officer John McClane of the NYPD became a reluctant hero, when on Christmas Eve, East German terrorist Hans Gruber took over the Nakatomi Plaza, Los Angeles in an attempt to steal millions of bearer bonds. McClane, who was at Nakatomi Plaza, where his wife, Holly Gennaro was an employee, for the Christmas Party, was able to remain hidden from the group of terrorists, and was able to cause chaos, eventually spoiling Gruber's Christmas celebrations. Sgt. Al Powell of the LAPD who did not like using a gun after accidentally killing a young boy at a crime scene, also becomes a reluctant hero when he shoots and kills, the enraged terrorist known only as 'Karl'.
  • Robert A. Segal characterizes Arjuna from the Hindu epic The Mahabharata as a reluctant hero.[3] Arjuna casts aside his weapons, fearful at the prospect of killing his kinsman during a civil war. Krishna then relates to Arjuna a series of arguments that convince Arjuna to go to war nonetheless.[3]
  • In Star Wars, Han Solo is portrayed as a reluctant hero. He is hesitant to join the Alliance to Restore the Republic due to being an outlaw. In the Expanded Universe novel Balance Point his son Jacen fit the characteristics of reluctant hero. He is unwilling to fight out of fear that the galaxy will tumble into darkness. In the end, he saves his mother's life and wounds the Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster Tsavong Lah.
  • Spider-Man also fits the criteria of reluctant hero as throughout his career, Peter Parker constantly questions his decision to become a superhero. One of the most famous examples would be The Amazing Spider-Man issue 50, titled Spider-Man No More!.
  • Eddie Valiant from Who Framed Roger Rabbit fits into this category, being forced out of a depressive funk in order to solve a murder and prove the innocence of Roger Rabbit.
  • Captain Mainwaring, of Dad's Army, shows traits of a reluctant hero as he casts aside his self-important personality to protect his platoon and country.
  • The Reluctant Dragon

In real life
  • Alvin York, a World War I draftee who was a conscientious objector, but who as a soldier defeated a large contingent German troops as a sniper. York's achievement was then fictionalized in several movies, in which his stature as a reluctant hero was expanded.[4]
  • Neil Armstrong has been described as "a reluctant American hero".[5]

References
  1. Jessica Morrell, Bullies, Bastards And Bitches: How To Write The Bad Guys Of Fiction (2008), p. 62, ISBN 1582974845.
  2. Leo Hartas, The Art of Game Characters (2005), p. 82, ISBN 0060724315.
  3. Segal, Robert A. (2000). Hero Myths: A Reader. Blackwell Publishers. p. 168. ISBN 9780631215141.
  4. Andrew J. Rausch, The Greatest War Films of All Time: A Quiz Book (2004), p. 217, ISBN 0806524707.
  5. Granath, Bob (2015-02-27). "Neil Armstrong Praised as a Reluctant American Hero". NASA. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
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