Redroom.com recently asked a bunch of us to blog on heroes, and it really got me thinking. What makes a man the hero of the story. Is it untold bravery in the face of certain danger? Protectiveness? Kindness or compassion?
My favorite hero of all time is (who else) Mr. Darcy, from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy exhibited none of the above qualities. Quite the contrary. He was aggressive, rude, unkind, scornful, prideful and everything that constitutes a blatant snob, and yet he’s one of the world’s heroes. Why?
It was Darcy’s transformation from every negative named above to a humble caring man who made the reading public fall in love with him. He ate a lot of crow after Elizabeth Bennett refused his first proposal, spelling out why he was the last man on earth the world that she would ever marry. When he came back to Elizabeth months later, hat in hand, and proposed again, he was quite another man.
The point of all this?
If you’re a reader, don’t cross off a reluctant hero too soon. He may surprise you.
If you’re a writer, don’t try to make your heroes too lovable at first. Let them slide into that role slowly. Everyone loves a bit of lemon in their sweet tea. You don’t want a “too nice guy,” at least not from the get-go. They’re―well, let’s face it. They’re boring. Let your hero experience a catharsis. Allow him to change and grow. Maybe some day you’ll create a Mr. Darcy. For that matter, maybe I will as well.
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