Thread: The archetypal hero vs. the anti-hero

Just being a Curious George.

Which do you prefer to read about, the archetypal hero (the 'superman') or the anti-hero? Why--what attracts you to this hero?

Jocund Visions

I don't prefer one over the other. It depends on how they are written.

I prefer the ordinary guy who rises to the occasion!

I like my heros and heroines to be very human. Foibles and foolishness.

The anti-hero, all the way. I don't want a pretty person to save the day. That was an unintentional rhyme, by the way. So was that.

When you're The Other Man.

I want "human", warts and all. A hero need not be gorgeous, need not be human, but does need his virtues. Anti-heroes... well, too often they fall into "asshole". I don't like 'assholes'. I want a hero to try to do something right, even if they futz up and everyone dies. I like knowing the motivation for the character's actions and being able to empathize with either type.

Too often, 'prdinary guy who rises to teh occasion' falls into dumbness and particular tropes I despise. Namely, how this ordinary guy can do a bunch of extraordinary things, know some neat techniques, etc... things he shouldn't know or be able to do at all. Then the piece falls into Author's Wish Fulfillment, which I loathe.

There are very few archetypical characters that really appeal to me -- no matter what role they play in the story. I'm not even that wild about sticking labels on my characters. It's like putting them in a little box and then you have to write them to fit in the box, rather than to serve the story. And it's all about the story.

Your mileage, as usual, may vary.

I want both. lol
You need to fallow a respectable plot, and there fore he needs hero qualities. certain boundaries. No killing children ex.
But if you want a killer plot, aniti-hero is the way to go. Opens a brauder range, because evil can be anything, good is defined.
To that point I can handle any character with good writing and plot.
To me society si the enemy. lol. define hero.

Well, he was born of the greatest God, Zeus and a mortal woman to begin with and his step mother, the most powerful goddess, Hera hated him. Put him in all tough situations and he managed to come out of all those alive. Isn't that good enough a childhood where you dad does not recognize you and your step mother is out to kill you a criteria for an Hero?