MinDonner Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Larry Underwood from "The Stand" by Stephen King is a good example of an anti-hero.Really? Isn't he just a standard hero who did some minor assholish stuff in his past? Post-catastrophe he's pretty much straight Good Guy, can't think of anything morally questionable he did beyond "I used to be a selfish cokehead pop star". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Sister Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Really? Isn't he just a standard hero who did some minor assholish stuff in his past? Post-catastrophe he's pretty much straight Good Guy, can't think of anything morally questionable he did beyond "I used to be a selfish cokehead pop star".Larry strikes me as anti-hero material because of his treatment of the older woman he has the thing with who overdoses in the tent. He also is constantly fighting the assholish behavior with regards to Nadine. He does the 'standup guy' thing and stays with his woman, but he is sorely tempted. I'm sorry I cannot remember some of these character's names...it's been about 10 years since I last read that book. I need to get it back out. That was a great read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isalie Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Larry strikes me as anti-hero material because of his treatment of the older woman he has the thing with who overdoses in the tent. He also is constantly fighting the assholish behavior with regards to Nadine. He does the 'standup guy' thing and stays with his woman, but he is sorely tempted. It has been a while for me too, did he do anything bad to the woman other than not bury her? Can't say I blame him for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Sister Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 No, he was just not very patient with her. He is not a straight up hero in the series, like Stu, but he's not a bad guy, although his internal monologue constantly tells him that he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isalie Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Hehe, given the situation, patience may have been a little short in most people.Anywho, this thread has already proven not to be the place to discuss the anti hero archetype once so I'll just say that I disagree ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castel Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Larry strikes me as anti-hero material because of his treatment of the older woman he has the thing with who overdoses in the tent. He also is constantly fighting the assholish behavior with regards to Nadine. He does the 'standup guy' thing and stays with his woman, but he is sorely tempted. I'm sorry I cannot remember some of these character's names...it's been about 10 years since I last read that book. I need to get it back out. That was a great read.Then we get into an argument about whether actions or thoughts make people good. You would almost think that this thread was started by sciborg.But yeah, after that woman in the city Larry was pretty straight as far as I can tell. Him being tempted is not a sign of him being an anti-hero, it's a sign of him being a human character. Him not giving into temptation makes him look more like a hero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Sister Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 "In fiction, an antihero[1] (sometimes antiheroine as the feminine) is generally considered to be a protagonist whose personality can be perceived as being villainous and heroic together, in contrast to the more perpetually noble characteristics of an archetypal hero or the perpetually immoral characteristics of an archetypal villain. The term dates to 1714,[2] although literary criticism identifies the term in earlier literature.[3]"I would say, based on Larry's thoughts, he fits the bill. But that's just my opinion. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litechick Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 "In fiction, an antihero[1] (sometimes antiheroine as the feminine) is generally considered to be a protagonist whose personality can be perceived as being villainous and heroic together, in contrast to the more perpetually noble characteristics of an archetypal hero or the perpetually immoral characteristics of an archetypal villain. The term dates to 1714,[2] although literary criticism identifies the term in earlier literature.[3]"I would say, based on Larry's touts, he fits the bill. But that's just my opinion.I'm guessing that no one here read Hannibal Rising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Sister Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 I'm guessing that no one here read Hannibal Rising.I did and it was horrible. I think Hannibal should be totally out of the discussion based on how crappy the book was. ;)Edited for thick fingers....gaaaahhhhh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaena_Dragon_Queen Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Anne karenina, "K" from the castle, Estella Havisham and Viserys Targaryen and his sister too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Sister Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Anne karenina, "K" from the castle, Estella Havisham and Viserys Targaryen and his sister tooWe've already discussed Anna K., but how do you figure Miss H. And Viserys?? Miss H. does redeem herself, but Viserys is just awful.Edited to say - I am probably wrong about all of the above but will stand by Viserys. I would have run away from home if I had been Dany. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaena_Dragon_Queen Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 We've already discussed Anna K., but how do you figure Miss H. And Viserys?? Miss H. does redeem herself, but Viserys is just awful.I guess I just feel like I understand him very well, a special connection I guess. His story is tragic and all he ever wanted was the crown. All hail Viserys titles titles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Sister Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 I guess I just feel like I understand him very well, a special connection I guess. His story is tragic and all he ever wanted was the crown. All hail Viserys titles titlesI certainly won't throw any stones your way...I adore Cersei and Jaime. We aSoIaF fans are pretty nuts. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaena_Dragon_Queen Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 I certainly won't throw any stones your way...I adore Cersei and Jaime. We aSoIaF fans are pretty nuts. :)Thanks for not throwing stones ser Elder Viserys shall reward you :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Sister Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Thanks for not throwing stones ser Elder Viserys shall reward you :)You are so welcome...but I'm Lady Elder. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castel Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 "In fiction, an antihero[1] (sometimes antiheroine as the feminine) is generally considered to be a protagonist whose personality can be perceived as being villainous and heroic together, in contrast to the more perpetually noble characteristics of an archetypal hero or the perpetually immoral characteristics of an archetypal villain. The term dates to 1714,[2] although literary criticism identifies the term in earlier literature.[3]"I would say, based on Larry's thoughts, he fits the bill. But that's just my opinion. :)Yeah, but is Larry's personality really bad? He thinks he's bad, he may have been bad at some point, but he acts fine. For the personality to overwhelm a person's actions it has to be really bad and their actions have to be forced.It all depends on where you draw the line on noble. Someone thinking about leaving his girlfriend for another woman and not doing it seems less of an asshole and more of a person. Someone unable to see the problems with a woman who didn't have the strength to survive while he goes through the ruin of the world is not the best person, but they're human.If you think that heroes should not have such temptations then I guess he would count *Shrug* I just don't think that nobility is necessarily the absence of bad thoughts. eta: At least not those that are about sleeping with Woman X instead of going home to Woman Y.Speaking of which: Dexter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litechick Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 I did and it was horrible. I think Hannibal should be totally out of the discussion based on how crappy the book was. ;)Oh brother. Take it away, it's all yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Sister Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 Oh brother. Take it away, it's all yours.No, no, lite chick. You take it. I'm sorry I offended you...I just hated that book. But I do not want to offend you. You take it, and I will defend Hannibal as an anti-hero even though I want to smack him. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolverine Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Really? Isn't he just a standard hero who did some minor assholish stuff in his past? Post-catastrophe he's pretty much straight Good Guy, can't think of anything morally questionable he did beyond "I used to be a selfish cokehead pop star".Totally agree. He is not an anti hero in my opinion either.EDIT: It seems I have a stricter definition of what an anti hero is than many others though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Marquis de Leech Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Viserys can't be an anti-hero. He's not even a protagonist! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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