- Joined
- Jun 8, 2015
Because the "hero" or "main character" of the show always prevails in the end, gets the scholarship, wins the big game, humiliates the bully, gets the girl, lives happily ever after, whatever the final end goal is, the hero ultimately achieves it.
Yeah, there might be some loss or a moment of darkest hour along the way, but, by the end of Act III, the protagonist is in a better place than they were to start.
The autists and misanthropes of the world take the wrong message from this and assume that this is how it works for everyone, or if aware the hero is one of a select few, a "Chosen One"? Then they feel they OBVIOUSLY are part of such a group. Whatever defines the protagonist in fiction, they assume they have the same qualities because they WANT to be the hero, or more directly, want heroic-level success in life.
Since they've put themselves on the self-appointed heroes journey, then reality itself MUST bend to their inherent moral righteousness and gift them the happy ending, even if they don't TRY or make any concrete moves of their own volition.
The same plot-critical-existence that means Luke is the only one of 2 surviving Rebel strike craft from the Death Star attack?
The same force that means the hero doesn't get shot no matter how many goons are shooting at him? And that he'll never take a fatal bullet, but only a flesh wound? Even if they DO hit?
People like Bob think this is a REAL representation of how the world works: those who are pure of motive and above the sheep simply can't fail, any setback or humiliation they suffer? It's just temporary and adds to the sweet triumph at the end as the "payoff" will be HUGE for all this artful suffering.
They see themselves as the hero staring down the monster in the street, and not the extras running for their lives on the sidewalk.
The TL : DR is that the beloved fictional hero, possessed of unique skill and destined to win? It's who they WANT to be or ALREADY SEE THEMSELF as. You or I watch a movie and think "Boy, I wish I could be like them.. It'd be special." but Bob says "Wow, he's so much like ME!!! I must be special"
And while mythology has been around for all of human existance, it's kind of understood as a reader that the hero is someone you should ASPIRE to be like.
Bob thinks he's' ALREADY THERE and the "proof" is that he exists - history is vindicated by virtue of having produced HIM.
Where does this come from? Stunted maturity, never being told "no" growing up, narcissism and unwarranted self-appointed importance of your place in the world. You never mature past being 8 - 12 years old.
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