Who’s Your (Literary) Hero? [ONLINE]

I remember having to write book reports all throughout elementary school, and one of the first questions to answer was always, “Who is the hero of the story?” There was never any question about who the main character was, but did I necessarily find them heroic or worth of emulation was an entirely different question. And that’s the question we’ll be exploring this time!

So, who is your favorite literary hero (or heroine)?

They don’t necessarily have to be the main character, or even the traditional “hero”—maybe they’re the villain of the piece, but they have some redeeming qualities. What is it about them that sticks in your mind as an inspiration or makes them a figure of admiration?

At the same time, feel free to also bring examples of commonly cited “literary heroes” that you disagree with—what about them disqualifies them from hero status in your eyes?

I’m looking forward to a lively conversation as we discuss what it is that makes someone—even a literary character—a hero to us!