Romantic Hero Archetypes

[pristineungift]

Interesting discussion post about the different kinds of romantic hero over on romanceworld .

I sort of waffled my way through it, don't know if I made any sense, but it's interesting. GO CHECK IT OUT PPL.

I prefer some sort of hybrid of the intelligent/protector/warrior hero, but please, no man!pain.....

Comments

[meridian_rose]

Yeah, what was with the no anti-hero category? For me I suppose the badboy hero is almost the same as the anti-hero because if he's not a hero/anti-hero then he's probably a villain. And while I like the hero/protector type I think this can crossover a lot into the badboy/anti-hero because you can't be a badboy or a decent antihero if you can't protect yourself and others to some degree.

[pristineungift]

She went back and added it after my comment, and used a pic of Darken Rahl!

XD

[meridian_rose]

Really? Because Rahl is a villain, though we try to paint him as a complex character.
Antiheroes are the Han Solo (Firelfy's Malcolm Reynolds, V's Kyle Hobbes, Burn Notice's Michael Weston) types who are usually trained fighters but now operate outside of the law. They say things like "show me the money", call you "kid" and belittle your lack of experience. But when the chips are down they'll risk their own lives to save you, because secretly they're a good guy, just with issues.

I don't think Rahl is a very good example of the archetype. And if you think about it, to get past his villainy, we do have to acknowledge his manpain - daddy didn't love him, mummy wasn't around, brother was sent to kill him, sister betrayed him...like a bad soap opera of issues!

On other hand I've seen morally grey/villains who are the central figures of a story described as an antihero - Dexter for example - so your mileage may vary.

[pristineungift]

I think anti-hero has a broad application. In the show he is of course the villain, though I think he makes the transition to anti hero at the end of S2 since he is working to save the world - just in his own way.

[brontefanatic]

Glad you talked her into adding the category and Darken pic.

I don't know where I fall in this discussion, because now all I can think about is Mr. Darcy and Darken having a little chat - and it's pretty funny. It just put a strange little picture in my head.

[pristineungift]

You should join the group Bex. I think you'd like the discussions and stuff over there. Also, I like knowing people. Whut?