Guest Speakers: Sean Hillman, Stuart Jaffe, Misty Massey, James Nettles, Delia Remington – WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta
First off, what is an Anti-Hero/Heroine? It’s often a central character (if not your main protagonist) who does not exhibit particularly heroic traits. Examples would be Deadpool, Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad), Captain Jack Sparrow, Severus Snape, Walter White, etc.
They are not necessarily good or bad characters, and they are primarily motivated by selfish, though understandable reasons. It can be as simple as someone doing something wrong but for the right reasons (i.e. Breaking Bad – becoming a drug lord in order to provide for family.) Or it can be doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. For example: “Saving the world” not because they care about everyone else, but because the bad guy insulted their pride.
If you’re attempting to write an Anti-Hero, question their motivation. Why do they do what they do? Are their actions on behalf of others they care about? Are they just trying to survive like everyone else in a rough world? Deep down, do they want to be good, and feel like it’s too late for them, or that they are incapable of change?
How do you make an Anti-Hero likable? A frequent tactic is to put your character in context or circumstances that are worse than your character’s personality flaws. For example, you can put them next to a raging bitch or ass-hole who is creating an extremely annoying environment. Or you can set them next to a true villain who has no qualms about… kicking puppies, mass murder, etc. Your Anti-Hero would be willing to set aside society’s expectations and do what we all (deep down) really want to do – and kick their ass!
Implementing humor is another fantastic way of making your Anti-Hero likable. This is a major reason why Deadpool was so popular. I knew a family man who looked down on everything that Deadpool represented, though they hadn’t watched the movie. After providing several quotes, this same person couldn’t help but laugh, despite their better judgement. As a result, the Anti-Hero became a little more likable in this person’s eyes.
An Anti-Hero is reflective of the good and evil balance that lurks within us all, just beneath the surface. They become more identifiable, by accepting their bad side and sometimes utilizing it to do what needs to be done. This is what separates them from the “real” heroes who rise above the filth and stay true to good–no matter the sacrifice (aka Superman, Captain America, etc.) These “true” heroes exhibit more nobility, and are aspirations to be better than who we currently are.
It’s for these reasons that I play “Neutral” characters in D&D. If your party-members are truly “Good” and refuse to kill a threat who will come back to try and slay your party or innocent villagers again and again, I would be the one to say “Fine, then I’ll take care of it…” and slit their throat. The “Neutral” character or Anti-Hero would be willing to do something morally wrong in order to protect others in the future.
Personally, I think these characters are more popular in modern culture. What are your thoughts? Do you disagree and believe “true” heroes are more likable? If so, who are some examples, and why? Or do you prefer the Anti-Hero/ine, and if so, who are your favorite(s)? What is it about their personalities that you enjoy and/or relate to?
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