Why are heroes often orphans?

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Iron Man isn't an orphan. I'm pretty sure Howard died when Tony was in his early 20s. And we have no idea what happened to his mother.

 

[SuperFerret]

James Bond is an orphan?


JAMES BOND HAS A FAMILY?

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Why are heroes often "orphans"?
.

Because it's more tragic than having a mommy and daddy to run to after playing hero. Every kid wants to secretly be Peter Pan free to have adventures without the burden of parents interfering... so kids can live vicariously through the heroes they read about, but experience none of the emotional baggage. As a bonus, dead parents provide motivation for revenge, pathos, an interesting backstory and childhood issues that writers can explore.

Solved.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

James Bond is an orphan?


JAMES BOND HAS A FAMILY?

James Bond's parents died in a climbing accident when he was a kid. He lived with his aunt after that.

Another James Bond fun fact: He's not English. He's half Scottish and half Swiss.

 

[Sentinel X]

I've noticed this....has anyone else also noticed how disney princesses usually have a deceased or absent mother: Cinderella, Pocahontas, Princess Jasmine, Ariel, Mulan, Belle, etc

 

[SuperFerret]

James Bond's parents died in a climbing accident when he was a kid. He lived with his aunt after that.

Another James Bond fun fact: He's not English. He's half Scottish and half Swiss.

How the fudge am I supposed to know this?

 

[DarkSovereignty]

b-b-but you're suppose to know everything!

 

[kedrell]

Iron Man isn't an orphan. I'm pretty sure Howard died when Tony was in his early 20s. And we have no idea what happened to his mother.

Maria died in the same car crash as Howard.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

How the fudge am I supposed to know this?

You're SuperFerret. I expect you to know everything. I feel disappointed by this.

Maria died in the same car crash as Howard.

Thanks. I don't read Iron Man comics that much.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

the ironman thing makes me wonder what age is someone no longer "orphaned" because being 20 and having your parents killed still feels sorta "orphaned" too

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I think everyone including the OP means physical orphanage. So pretty much anyone under 17 or 18 I count as orphans.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

I think everyone including the OP means physical orphanage. So pretty much anyone under 17 or 18 I count as orphans.

that would make sense

 

[GuardianofOa]

It seems in most instances that our heroes were written in the 30's and 40's, and in that time, orphans were a big issue. The Depression had a huge surplus (is that even right?) of kids being dumped due to money issues. And During WW2 many mothers (who were knocked up prior to their men leaving)couldn't handle their spouses being away and left alone while pregnant, so they took their children to orphanages.

 

[SpiderVS.Evil]

Luke Skywalker made himself an orphan

 

[DarkSovereignty]

um... how?

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

He didn't

 

[Timstuff]

If one parent is dead and you were abandoned by the other, or if you were abandoned by both parents, you are still an orphan. Also, for writing's sake you're still technically an orphan if you've been adopted, because the biological parents are still out of the picture.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I'm talking about the "making himself and orphan part".

 

[Superman 1265]

Because it's more tragic than having a mommy and daddy to run to after playing hero. Every kid wants to secretly be Peter Pan free to have adventures without the burden of parents interfering... so kids can live vicariously through the heroes they read about, but experience none of the emotional baggage. As a bonus, dead parents provide motivation for revenge, pathos, an interesting backstory and childhood issues that writers can explore.

Solved.

Case closed.t:

 

[terry78]

Basically most superheroes were never really all that well adjusted and had ****ed up lives, hence their wanting to make the world a better place. If you grew up in a home with two parents and didn't have to worry about much, you kind of take **** for granted.

 

[Ultimatehero]

^ Can totally relate to that one. Over compensating. Made me feel like I had to succeed, now at a dream professional future path. On top of that wanting to be a volunteer LAPD officer which is next on the list, to help people.

To 'A Hero with a thousand faces,' own a copy and some psychologists use it in treatment of orphan difficulties. Also mirrored my own journey at many points as well.

 

[Lord]

Why are heroes often "orphans"?
And, if an "orphan", how has this impacted you?

I't not something they deserve but something they need

 

[The Lizard]

There's a few reasons. The most obvious one is that orphans are much more likely to be independent, which makes them more likely to go off adventuring at a young age. Most heroes start being heroes at a young age.

It also often makes them outsiders, who need to have things told to them. Which is good for an audience.

The hardships of being an orphan also often means that they learn to have empathy. Though it can also make them bitter and misanthropic, and as a result, you also see a lot of villains who are orphans.

That pretty much sums it up.

Also relating to the first point however, is the fact that a lot of fiction that's geared towards young people uses the orphan as sort of a wish-fulfillment tool to depict a young character who has no ties to parents, and thus more freedom.
Most kinds with parents or guardians don't wish their parents were dead of course, but they generally do have imaginative play fantasies where they are alone in the world and free to do what they want in a more adult way.

Even characters like Harry Potter, who lived a very restricted, unpleasant life under his aunt and uncle, eventually had more freedom to stay at Hogwarts school over the holidays and to have dangerous adventures as a result of not having any caring parents to monitor his actions.

It's sort of a tie-in to the post-apocalyptic fantasy. No one really wants the world to get destroyed, but it's fun to think about all the freedom from mundane responsibilities and just taking what you want from an empty world.

 

[Neverless]

John Locke
Chuck Bartowski

;D

 

[SuperSoldier985]

It's basically a trope now.