How can an anti-hero teach us about the heroic--and sometimes, the unheroic characteristics that shape a story’s protagonist? From jealousy to self-doubt, discuss how anti-heroes reflect the very mortal weaknesses that can be found within all of us
Most stories about bravery try to teach us what we learn from the powerful protagonist. They portray the perfect flawless hero to which one can relate. However, humans are not as perfect as the heroic figures from stories. But anti-heroes exist. They are more like us when it comes to their personality and experiences that shape who they are. Their flaws make them more relatable and connect the readers to the story and the character. Authors will use the protagonists to illustrate human experiences
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Winston, the protagonist in 1984, rebels against the authoritarian system that controls the dystopian society. The reader enters a rollercoaster of emotions that characterizes the Anti-hero experience. The purpose of the sentiments is to help the reader to make judgments of the character they are getting to know, which will be a pivotal moment when reading. Although he doesn't have the means to overthrow the government from power, his will to change society aids him in trying to bring change. However, this strong feeling to bring change has caused everlasting damage to his consciousness. The story of Samson had a supernatural aid that caused him to gain the strength he possessed. However, his personality traits turned on him, causing the loss of his gifted power and death. His story has a theme of love and betrayal that highlight the relatedness to humans. Despite the heroes having bad endings, they teach us about how their interests can impact the overall events of the plot. Additionally, the nature of their journeys to change the setting highlight how their innermost feelings, such as those of self-interest, can impact their …show more content…
They have flaws, do not always make the right choice, and rebel against powerful people in the setting they are in. It differs from typical heroes and gives authors the flexibility to manipulate their journeys in the story to teach something to the readers about themselves. Anti-heroes relate more to human beings as they also have flaws. Whether it is the character or the reader themselves, the authors aim to create an impact with this feature. This impact is necessary to shift attention to the protagonist. In turn, it will allow them to develop a connection with that character. In 1984, George Orwell teaches us about a protagonist who opposes the government. It is a book that narrates the power of totalitarianism and the consequences it can bring with it. But through his journey, we learn that he fears being discovered and he has imperfections with his body, which is a reason for his lack of self-confidence. We also learn that the person he has admired the most betrays him. These features make the story more realistic and relatable to readers as they could have been or know people who possibly find themselves in that situation. Anti-hero's imperfections and emotions are relatable to the audience, and this way, the author can cause a desired