About Me

Heroes

Every hero has common characteristics about them that make us fall in love with them: isolation, special gifts, quirky friends/followers/sidekicks, exotic surroundings, and an unwillingness for fame.

I used to always see myself as this type of hero, but then again maybe everyone does. That is, they see themselves as the unique one who is always on the verge of an adventure that will prove to the world something great.

1) Isolation. Usually this is provided by the “orphan” syndrome of the hero; either the hero has lost their parents to death, or has been abandoned by them, whatever. There is usually then a parent-type figure (a god-father, cousin, uncle etc.) who provides some sort of authority but personal type wisdom for the hero who is much in need.

So, why not me? My parents both abandoned me emotionally and I have felt alone and isolated my entire life. My one link would be my grandmother. She provides words of wisdom, love, acceptance and a sense of security that is otherwise nonexistent.

2) Special Gifts. The hero obviously has to stand out for this reason, or many reasons, whether they know they have these gifts from the beginning or (the more usual case) they discover them miraculously along the way of adventure.

I like to think my gift is writing, and hence the component that automatically goes along with that, which is a keen knack for deep thought and analysis (with the occasional profound philosophy or analogy on life). Analogies are my specialty; I can make connections in this way like you would believe, and justify them to my death. My mind works in weird ways…

3) Quirky friends/followers/sidekicks. We can all identify plenty of these: Ron and Hermione in Harry Potter, Pippin, Merry and Sam in Lord of the Rings and Flounder, Sebastian and Scuttle in The Little Mermaid (Disney movies are riddled with these). Even Jesus had his share of sidekick action. They strengthen the noble characteristics of the hero and help him/her to stay grounded in their roots or past. They are crucial to the success of the journey, even though the last part usually has to be done solo.

Here is where I pause. There have been plenty of people in my life who have seemed like they will fulfill this role, but the full-time position is still void of anything permanent. At least in the salt-to-pepper kind of way. They have all added to my life, and definitely kept me grounded, but I still haven’t found that pithy side-kick who will dedicate their life to my journey, and to whom I could do the same. Although, there have been candidates. And man, the stories I could tell from just that. The closest thing I would connect this to would be the Girls: crazy group of adolescents on the verge of adulthood, but who definitely provide me with growth and adventure. Too bad none of them have ventured towards my spot in the Tdot.

4) Exotic surroundings. This element is key in giving the audience a sense of awe and interest in the adventure, as an exotic surrounding or environment provides for way more obstacles to overcome. And also, people love a jolt from the everyday mundane world they have to continuously contend with.

This exotic environment is very much tied to my writing and imagination. With this crazy brain, I can manage to rationalize pretty far-reaching ideas, plots lines, obstacles etc. and it provides me with a whole world with very limited set of rules or boundaries.

5) Unwillingness for fame. This is probably one of my favourites because it eliminates so many other candidates who go out and seek adventure and fame rather than it being their destiny, or, in a way, seeking them. The element of humility is very crucial for several obvious reason (likeability, motive etc.) and basically makes the hero’s cause noble and worth routing for.

The only fame I seek would come from myself, not for myself. I know this sounds a little weird, but let me explain. You see, I’m forced into this corner of believing that there is no intrinsic value or meaning to life and therefore I am constantly looking for ways of infusing it with the meaning I think it deserves. So, I do not seek fame and fortune from a quest or journey in a public sense, but in a private sense, through a certain knowledge that I have given meaning to my life and by doing so, have helped others to do the same to their lives. I seek recognition of my soul, but nothing more. I mean…a sports car would be nice and all, but seriously not the important issue at hand.

So, did I convince you? Can I be the hero of a story? Please?

 

 

 

Dana Marie Krook

As a postgraduate student at Centennial College in the Book and Magazine Publishing program, I am just starting out in this adventure. I’m not sure my advice is of any tremendous worth just yet, but trust me on the sunscreen.