We’re back, for the second dose of therapy, and I have to say, you Voices are people after my own hearts – I love the heroes you picked and especially love their fears! These are a few of my favorites – thanks for entering!
From Cara ~
Rhett Butler — Clark Gable plays him to a T. He’s afraid of being misunderstood and played by the one person he’s allowed into his heart.
Jack Ryan — played by Harrison Ford — he’s afraid of being unable to protect his family and the country.
Jason Bourne — he’s afraid of never finding out who he really is while being petrified of what he’ll discover when he finally unravels that.
(Susie here: I have a big crush on Jason!)
From Charmaine ~
It was hard to choose a favorite movie hero! But here’s one that has an interesting and complex fear: In Forever Young Mel Gibson’s character is afraid to face the death of his beloved and so he runs (by being frozen) hence we have the whole movie because of that fear, and we see he paid a great price for it. But, here’s the interesting thing – if he’s so afraid to face death, why is he a test pilot? A ploy to make himself face his worst fears and triumph over them?
(Susie’s thoughts: Or – he’s not afraid of his own death, but the death of his heart, should the one he loves dies…? OR…maybe he totally afraid of death…and wants to cheat it?)
Another conundrum – in Chariots of Fire Abrams is afraid to lose, but when he comes to the ultimate race (the Olympics) he tells his best friend he’s almost more afraid to win – fear of having nothing left to strive for.
(Susie here: That’ such an interesting fear. I love how the author really went deep into his character and pulled out that unique fear. Wonderful! )
Here’s another from Jean ~
One of my favorite movie hero’s would have to be L.B. Jefferies from Rear Window. Jeff is played by James Stewart. It’s one of my all time fav. movies. It’s a classic.
L.B. Jefferies had no idea on how a broken leg and looking out his apartment window would add some excitement into his life. How looking out his apartment window at the lives of his neighbors would lead to him witnessing a murder.
Jeff is afraid of making a commitment. Being tied down. He’s afraid that if he was to marry his girlfriend, Lisa Fremont, he wouldn’t be able to continue working for the magazine that he is an award winning photographer for. He enjoys being able to travel all over the world. Trying to get those hard to get shots. Whether its of a volcano erupting or of a car crash on a race track. Jeff is worried that Lisa would try to make him change into someone he’s not. Because of his fear of commitment, he tells her that she’s too perfect for him, and that is why he can’t be with her. And even if she is willing to change for him, they still never could be together cause they’re just too different. She just won’t fit into his world, and he can’t fit into hers. So Jeff pushes her away.
Jeff is also afraid because he believes he just witnessed a murder and no one will believe him. He’s afraid that the murderer will get away because of it. He’s convinced that one of his neighbors, Lars Thorwald, murdered his wife.
And as things start falling into place (evidence), Jeff is afraid that Thorwald will leave, getting away with killing his wife before the police catch him.
His greatest fears would be losing the woman he loves, Lisa, by his own doing or by the hands of the killer.
(Susie: Such a great analysis ! I too love that movie. Also loved the remake – Disturbia!)
And, lest you think only movies have heroes, here’s one from Jessica, who’s a fan of a fellow Minnesotan.
My favorite hero is MacGyver. His fear is heights and he lets you know it too. The very first episode is him climbing up the side of a mountain to rescue a downed pilot and he lets you know that he hates heights. Right around the time he jumps off the cliff and para-sails down to the bottom while the bad guys are shooting at him. He has to face his fear several times to save friends or get people out of danger, including himself.
His other fear is guns, because a friend died while they were playing with one in his younger years. It doesn’t show its self as a fear but he absolutely dislikes them and refuses to hold one. But it helps to make the character and it doesn’t hurt that he’s cute.
(Susie again: This is a great example of smaller fears accumulating to the big one. And, like Jessica said, it really helps to add depth to his character.)
Thank you for your insights, ladies!
We’re done with our heroes for now – you can let them go off to do their heroic deeds. Next week, we’ll take a look at our HEROINES!
Have a super weekend!