Top 5 Reluctant Heroes
The next two weeks we’re talking about some of the greatest superheroes every to grace the pages of comic books or the screens of cinema. However, not every hero embraces the emblem of their prospective world’s hope. This week’s Top 5 are five heroes who we all know and love, but may not have initially wanted to take up the mantle.
Mr. Anderson never felt quite settled as a computer programmer. He took risks elsewhere to satisfy his need for some level of thrill in his life, but he was hesitant to really put anything on the line. On one such thrill-seeking venture, he bit off more than he expected. Upon taking the red pill, his eyes were opened to a reality he didn’t want to face. To make matters worse, he’s told that he’s “the one”. You can see the suspicion in his eyes. He doesn’t really believe it, and he doesn’t want to. When faced with the truth, he wants out. And further, in his meeting with the Oracle, is suspicions are confirmed; he’s not the one. But despite all his suspicions and the words of the Oracle, when push comes to shove, he has to decide whether to rescue his mentor and likely lose his life, or let him die and continue as another cog in the wheel.
In a post-apocalyptic world, maintaining control of the remaining population is critical. Eli is instructed by God to deliver his Word to a safe place, but it is this word which has such a great ability to persuade people that are needed by those in power to stay in power. When Eli stops into a town for a simple battery charge and some water, he’s pulled into just such a power struggle. He already has a mission. It’s a mission he’s been divinely appointed to accomplish. He doesn’t want to get pulled into local politics and he’s not particularly interested in freeing people from oppression. But the danger is imminent and he’s in a position to affect the outcome.
When you’re in debt up to your neck to Jabba the Hut, who has time for saving the Galaxy? Young punks trying to conjure up ancient magic, pretentious princesses bossing you around, who needs that kind of stress? For a scruffy looking nerd-herder, he certainly had a knack for saving Luke after expressing determination to leave. Whether he’s flying in to clear Luke’s path to the one weak spot of the Death Star in New Hope, or he’s braving the Arctic climate of Hoth when Luke doesn’t come back to the base before nightfall in Empire Strikes Back, Han’s desire to help always trumped his desire for independence. He displays an attitude that would make others think he only cares about himself. And to a certain extent, that’s true. He completes his end of the deal and wants to get back to his own business. But when confronted with a galactic sized threat he’s compelled to act in the long-term best interest of others rather than the short term interests of himself.
2) John McClaine – Die Hard
Sometimes we just want to go about our day, do our job, and go home. Who am I kidding? That’s basically what we want to do all the time. But, sometimes, we need Hans Gruber (RIP Alan Rickman) to take a whole building hostage to kick us into gear! This was the case for John McClaine on a Christmas evening in 1988. Five films later McClaine was still doing the same. He is the ‘everyman’ who signed up to serve and protect but continually finds himself being pressed into serving and protecting a great degree more than your average Joe. He begrudgingly takes on the difficult tasks that he is either uniquely skilled or especially reckless enough to accomplish. Nobody sees him coming because hey, he’s just a cop. Despite his seemingly ordinary state and his preference to just get through the day with no issues, he knows what’s right and knows he’s the one that can get the job done, so he does it.
In the original film, Max wasn’t so much reluctant as he was just responding to the aggression and violence brought against himself and his family. However, for the remaining of this franchise, including the latest installment in 2015: Fury Road, he was the prototypical wondering traveler, mostly looking for ways to continue his lonely survival, but always finding himself in the middle of someone else’s fight for freedom of some kind. He just needs some gas, but he’s pulled into a turf/commodity war where the weak are being picked apart by the strong. He just wants his supplies back, but he’s pressed into a slavery ring and to free himself he must also free others. Or the means of his escape from bondage is shared with … He’s reluctant because he only wants to secure his own safety, freedom, and belongings. He’s a hero because every time his path crosses with another group in greater need than him, he sets his own desires aside and works to serve others.
