The Journaling of Hinton 389

The archetype exists for a "Willing Hero" as a model for what features and characteristics belong to a great hero. This is not to say that a hero is perfect and without flaws (that's actually another different archetype), but that a hero fits the criteria for being a hero persona. Courageous and brave - but not in a 'fearless way' (bravery and action despite fear). Fearless is more the quality of the Unwilling Hero. Some Willing Hero characters do have some depth of character but in narratives or artistic creations which show or tell little about the Willing Hero, save for his acts, the audience still understands and appreciates the character. The Willing Hero archetype isn't typically a gender-sensitive or gender-responsive role overall in the general list of important archetypes. Better explained, this means political correctness doesn't often enter the picture concerning this archetype. The Willing Hero may, in fact, be a confusing character for readers/viewers because his role is so defined and rigid that he often seems to be without depth. Depth of character is not a necessary requirement for a Willing Hero, thus, is of no consideration.

The best Willing Hero characters are often shallow and flawed in other aspects of character. For instance - Hercules is a definite Willing Hero but as a persona, his character lacks empathy in many situations. He acts "The Hero" by doing violent acts, if his role calls for him to do so. Hercules is not self-sacrificing or sensitive to the needs of others when a situation calls for a different sort of character instead of a hero. He rarely springs into action if, say, a sensitive person is needed in a self-sacrificing way for the purpose of looking after a child - even if nurturing the child is ultimately an important thing the child desperately needs. Nurturing is considered a self-sacrificing thing but being a nurturing personality has nothing to do with being a hero in many situations. If a child were in danger and Hercules was asked, instead, to rescue the child from danger - THEN he would become self-sacrificing and face untold dangers in order to perform the tasks of a hero - THEN he would put his life in danger, if need be, in order to act the hero and rescue the child.

Naturally, there are other archetypes that WOULD be self-sacrificing AND nurturing at the same time, but this archetype and the qualities of such an archetype wouldn't be closely related to Hercules or the Willing Hero archetype. Archetype roles are rigid because they must be understood and recognized by a large audience. If archetypes were wishy-washy and the details of each archetype changed slightly with each character or story, the symbolic nature and meaning of the archetype would fall apart. The Willing Hero's function is usually to provide viewers/readers with a view into a story. Some finer, more psychological aspects of The Willing Hero character are designed to allow the viewer/reader to identify with this archetype. For a few brief moments here and there, writers and other artistic creators of narrative make sure to build something into the Willing Hero character that causes the audience to feel they are like the Willing Hero or at least WISH TO BE LIKE the Willing Hero. This data has been done by Essay Freelance Writers!

Sacrifice: The Willing Hero invariably sacrifices something of great value (which can include his own life) on behalf of an ideal, a person or group. Action: The Willing Hero provides action in a narrative or work of art, and is usually the most active character in the script/artistic presentation. The action a Willing Hero provides and performs is usually a decisive one and is often an 'all or nothing,' act with a very final end. Growth: The Willing Hero usually functions to provide a learning experience or growth in a narrative/artistic piece. Check it out work toward goals and overcome obstacles to achieve wisdom, experience or knowledge. If this wisdom, experience or knowledge doesn't add to the overall value of the Hero, then the Hero and his actions still do provide or reveal something to do with wisdom, experience or knowledge for members of the audience. Basically, knowledge gained may not actually get incorporated within the Hero to make a more rounded (less shallow) Hero but the Hero's growth will show the audience something and, hopefully, add to audence wisdom, experience and knowledge.