Why are heroes often orphans?

[terry78]

Hell, you saw the backstory we got for Kirk in J.J's flick. Stepdad via phone was already viewed as an immediate prick who we assume was kind of abusive in a sense so you didn't feel bad about Kirk stealing and crashing his car. If he had two loving parents at home and hadn't lost his real dad, I doubt he'd have become the Kirk we know and love. I guess us dudes that have stable family homes are just destined to be the guys getting saved by these guys.

 

[Ultimatehero]

I guess us dudes that have stable family homes are just destined to be the guys getting saved by these guys.

Damned straight. t:

The most striking scene in that film was the notion that in another dimension, my Dad would be here watching me soar to the top of my field. There's just something very awesome about that.

 

[Karem-Knight]

I think the connection or being an orphan also helps connect to the more modern Byronic Heroes. Batman, Craig's Bond, Solid Snake, Hulk, all share similiar traits to the Byronic Hero template that stems away from more traditional heroes (I.E. Supes, Spidey, Cap etc.).

I really like this thread it's cool we have a place to discuss stuff like Joseph Campbell.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I think it's actually fairly simple, really.

From a writer's perspective, parents just get in the way.

Really having a character be an orphan seems lazy to me. At least in most cases, where they just do it so they don't have to explain where they are.

Like the writer couldn't figure out a way to make the story work with parents.

Just look at literature for children. The protagonist is almost always an orphan. Maybe he'll have a single parent, who's busy working. Anything to get them out of the way.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

I'd break it down like this.

Mosts heroes stories are coming of age stories.

Most heroes stories involve tragedy because it is seen as strong motivator for doing something drastic - whether that is about revenge, justice, living up to the loved one's expectations etc.

Most coming of age stories naturally lend themselves to the tragedy being the death of parents... because who else is more important to a young man/woman?

I mean, you can try the death of a sibling, the death of a 'love of your life' type, but it's usually the parents. That's usually the biggest tragedy a coming of age story can involve.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

Also most fairytale heroes and heroines are parentless . And most Disney characters

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

I really think the notion of mysterious or short lived parents is symbolic of virgin births. Almost like they're parents don't matter too much. Adds to the improbability and incredible nature of his journey. If you had a kid whose parents raised him under their wing and carefully provided for him so he'd become a big strong vigilante it'd seem less incredible.

 

[terry78]

I think the only character I know of that has both his parents around is Thor, but the dysfunction amongst his extended and immediate kin negates it.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I think the only character I know of that has both his parents around is Thor, but the dysfunction amongst his extended and immediate kin negates it.

I'm having a hard time remembering Thor's mother.

Did they even mention Captain America's parents?

 

[Shemtov]

^IIRC, in that terrible movie from 1990, but nowhere else that I remember....

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I'm having a hard time remembering Thor's mother.

Did they even mention Captain America's parents?

Steve mentioned how his parents died in his first scene in Captain America.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Glad they got that out the way.

Man, there's a ton of dead parents.

 

[terry78]

The consensus is jacked up childhood = hero potential. Or villain potential. Everybody else is just background extras.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I can think of a few exceptions.

James T. Kirk. Though the reboot did kill off his daddy.

 

[Alexia Dark]

Because personal knowledge of death results in the guilt of surviving, and the pain of loss motivates them to never let it happen again, even if it means self-sacrifice.

A hero realizes the value of human life and seeks to validate their fears by facing death to prove it can be fought against.

A villain considers human life to be less valuable than their own, and seeks to validate their fears by causing death and proving that they're not alone in fearing it.

Every hero has a death wish, and every villain wants to live without knowing death.