Saturday, March 5, 2011

Less than Fatal Flaws

I've been watching a lot of the old Disney Afternoon TV shows lately (ah, nostalgia, they name is `lets see how long I can put off doing my collage homework.') and I've noticed quite a few characters fall under what TV tropes calls Mr Vice Guy .  Scrooge McDuck turns stinginess into an art form.  Baloo of TaleSpin puts most of his energy into trying to get out of work.  Darkwing Duck can barely reign in his ego (and usually doesn't try).  


You'd think such obviously flawed characters wouldn't be so completely lovable, but despite their failings, these guys are portrayed as heroes.  Scrooge may love money, but he'll always stick to honest labor to get it -and will thoroughly trounce those who prefer dishonest means.  Baloo may try to get out of work, but he's never too lazy to rescue his friends when they're in trouble.  Darkwing Duck may grumble and glower when the media once again fails to notice his heroism, but that doesn't stop him from being a terrific father, or from saving the city.


I think there's something empowering about reading or watching characters who have to struggle against themselves in order to save the day.  After all, don't we have to do the same?  Maybe we don't face down super villains or air pirates, but we often have to fight our own egos, or laziness, or greed.  Seeing heroes who have to go through the same man against self (or bear or duck against self) is reassuring that we're not the only ones whose better natures have to wage war in order to come out on top.



9 comments:

  1. That is interesting. I remember Scrooge McDuck, but I'm not as familiar with the other ones. Dad talks about Gus Goose, another Disney character who might fall in the same category. I'm not sure he was a hero, but his main vice was being hungry all the time. He was always looking for food, or eating. {Smile}

    I think you're right that less-than-perfect characters can appeal because they have to fight their own flaws. That gives us something to identify with, as well as giving hope when they succeed. {Smile}

    Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

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  2. One of the things that makes them all really awesome is that even though they're comic characters, they still manage to be really deep. :)

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Yes, I think you're right. Those characters are deepoer than some of their friends. I think their flaws add something. {Smile}

    (Sorry for the tardy reply. I had to take my comptuer in to the shop maybe two and a half weeks ago. It took them half a week to get to it, and a week and a half to fix up a new one. Then it took me almost a week to get it mostly working. So I'm finally on a comptuer that does what I want it to, and doesn't have to be shared with my father. That makes it so much easier to find time for thoughtful replies. {Smile}

    Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

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  5. I'm so glad for a reply -whenever it came. :) And I'm really happy about your new computer. Upgrading can be quite an ordeal. I'm glad you know how to work it right away. (One thing that keeps me from upgrading my personal computer is the fear that I may have to re-learn some of my programs.)

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  6. Yes, upgrading can be a bit of a job. However, as long as you're just switching between flavors of Windows (or whatever operating system you use), it's usually not too bad. There are differences between the Windows 7 I have now and the Windows XP I had before, but there are a lot of similarities, too. {Smile}

    Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

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  7. I'm glad it hasn't been too hazardous. :)

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  8. It's turning out to be a bit more trouble than I thought. It isn't handling email the way it should, tho as far as I can tell, the settings are right. I have an appointment to take my computer in to the store I bought it from on Monday. I'm supposed to tell the owner and the technician I talked to what the problems are, and they'll try to fix it. I hope they can without too much trouble. {cross fingers, Smile}

    That's part of what distracted me from posting long enough that the last four comments - and, probably this one too - won't be shown until you approve them. I really didn't mean to wait that long... {rueful smile}

    Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

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  9. Is that what's happening! I'm relieved. I thought the comments weren't posting right away because I'd messed up the settings or something.

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