Holding Out for a Hero

Some people are drawn to the villain in books, television and movies. I can understand that attraction because the villains have this dark side that can be explored. What made them bad? Did something happen to them as a child? Can they be redeemed? I think the last part is key, especially for women readers/viewers. Bad boys are exciting! They're the guys your parents never want you to come home with, so there's that element of defying a parent's wishes, which, let's face it, as a young person trying to get out from under their influence, can be a heady thing. However, most women don't want to marry the bad guy. No, they are pretty confident they can turn them into good guys, but still keep that hint of 'badness' that makes them so exciting. For men, the villain is the dark part of themselves they don't dare show to the world, but they can experience what it is like by reading and watching, all the while  staying safe and comfortable.

This is all theory on my part, by the way. I have no data to back it up, and as someone who has always gone for the good guy as far back as I can remember, my theory might be totally groundless, but there has to be a good reason for normal people to like the bad guy. For me, it's all about the good guy. Others might see them as boring. Ho-hum. Good guy saves the world. Again. And gets the girl. Again. Borrrrrrrrrrrinnng! But what if the good guy is fighting his urge to be bad? What if he hates the person he has to save, and thinks about letting them get their just reward? Can't that be just or even more compelling than the bad boy? After all, the bad boy can do whatever he wants. He's bad and everyone knows it. It doesn't take much character or struggle to give in to his dark side, so for me, there's no tension there. It's too easy to go to the dark side.

I feel it takes a lot more courage and soul-searching for the hero to do something which puts his own life in danger. Does any fireman really want to rush into a burning building? Does any sane person? Not hardly, but the alternative, to let someone else die, is something heroes can't live with, not if they have a chance of saving the person and coming out alive. That's why I always go for the heroes. They choose the harder, more dangerous path and battle through all obstacles. No matter the sacrifice and struggle, they soldier on and reach their goals. So, yeah. I think they deserve to get the girl in the end.