Definition of
Antihero
The notion of antihero is used to define the character who, in a story, exhibits behaviors and characteristics that do not match those presented by conventional heroes. Thus, while their actions may be considered heroic, their procedures and purposes are not.
In the fictionmany times the anti-hero is selfish, hermit, surly and heartless until his heroic action works as redemption. With social recognition and a new conception of himself, the antihero becomes and ends the story in a position close to that of a traditional hero.
- Different types of antihero
- Some examples
- The reflection of the antihero
- Related Topics Tree
Different types of antihero
The idea antihero is also used to name the character who does not have the qualities attributed to heroes, although their objectives and achievements are the same. Heroes are generally brave, strong, and beautiful: the anti-hero lacks these attributes. A cowardly and unattractive young man who, thanks to his efforts, manages to save the town from him by facing a villain can be considered an anti-hero.
One of the alternate names this hero type sometimes goes by is protagonist antagonisticand this reinforces the differences that can be seen between his characteristics and those of the conventional hero, especially the questionable nature of his methods and motivations.
It can serve you: Protagonist
Some examples
Two prominent examples of novels in which the protagonist can be described as an anti-hero are “The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quijote of La Mancha” and «The life of Lazarillo de Tormes and his fortunes and adversities». In the acclaimed saga of crime novels titled “Millennium”created by the Swedish writer stieg larssonwe can appreciate a modern version of an antihero, in this case a young hacker named Lisbeth Salander with an antisociable personality and little related to the model traditional heroin
In the world of comics there are many characters that fit this description, such as Red Hood, The Darkness, john constantine, deadpool, Ghost Rider, The Punisher and Vegeta. It goes without saying that many of them have made it to the movies, generally as protagonists, and this movement can be very positive for those people who feel drowned in a world that pursues perfection as the only form of success or recognition.
See also: Recognition
The reflection of the antihero
The anti-hero has gained particular popularity in recent years, precisely because of the revitalizing effect it has on those who do not see Clark Kent when they look in the mirror. Perhaps the etymology of the word does not do its best to clearly express its meaning, since it makes us think of something negative: at first glance, antihero seems a synonym for villain or antagonistic character, and this interpretation is not necessarily correct.
In addition to the benefits that the staging of an anti-hero can bring so that certain people rejected by the society can see themselves reflected in a main character, the flexibility it offers when it comes to defining his personality is greater, and this can open the doors to doses of humor and humanity much greater than those possible in characters as rigid and cold as Superman.
One of the aspects that is usually worked on in greater depth when creating an antihero than a hero is his past, the events and experiences that led him to become a being alien to social impositions. They usually have very painful stories, they have suffered a deep disappointment in a relationship or a loss due to the activity of a criminal gang; Starting from suffering, he decides to rebuild himself, without paying attention to anything other than his thirst for revenge or his particular way of understanding morality and justice. The anti-hero is said to be less extreme or defined than the hero and the villain.
Follow on: Humor