Back in the day, readers want their main characters to be squeaky clean and the absolute pillars of morality. From suave romantics to powerful superheroes, these heroes were meant to be a grade above the average Joe. However, as time has moved on, we have developed a taste for protagonists that are more nuanced and relatable. Heroes that have greatness are thrust upon them through overcoming adversity, setbacks or just by finding themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Join us at What We Reading as we delve into what a reluctant hero is, and how you can write a compelling one into your next story!
What Is A Reluctant Hero?
A character classified as a reluctant hero typically fits into one of two categories:
- An individual without any special skills or abilities, but is required to meet the challenge of a surreal or dangerous situation.
- A superhero who has exceptional powers, but demonstrates a reluctance to use them for various reasons.
A reluctant hero might venture into a story full of conviction but could fall back into self-doubt or reluctance after a defeat or setback. The story follows them as they find the strength to fight back and find new sources of inspiration.
The term ‘reluctant hero might used interchangeably with ‘reluctant protagonist’. It’s worth remembering that a hero is a type of protagonist. All stories need a protagonist to drive the plot, but not every story needs a hero. Check out our protagonist vs hero post for a more detailed breakdown.
Giving your hero a sense of reluctance gives them complexity and emotional depth that readers will find more believable and interesting to read. It can make their eventual victory feel like an even greater achievement, or their tragic final sacrifice even more profound.
Check Out Our Guide To Tragic Heroes
Caught In A Trap
What better motivator for a reluctant hero than a situation they have no choice but to try and get out of? Regardless of their personality or motivations, being caught in a trap means your protagonist has to rise to the challenge.
An example of a reluctant hero being caught in a trap comes in Chris Ewan’s The Interview. In the book, protagonist Kate Harding attends an interview in a deserted office block on a Friday afternoon. Before long, she is locked in the room by her interviewer. She is forced to rely on her wits and craftiness to escape and work out why she was trapped in the first place.
What makes this scenario so compelling is the sense of ‘what if’ it installs in readers. With many of the situations these heroes find themselves in appearing benign and ordinary, to begin with, it’s easy to imagine themselves being caught in it and asking how they would react.
Promise Of Reward
For some reluctant heroes, the promise of a big shiny reward can be the only motivator they need. The promise of money and wealth can appear greedy on the surface, but what else is a loveable rogue going to be most motivated by? Plus, fat stacks of money is arguably the biggest motivator any reader can empathise with. The reward doesn’t have to be for the protagonist either, it could be an item, reward or anything else another character requires.
Reluctant heroes that begin being motivated by rewards often finish the story picking up an additional bonus on top of it too. This can range from anything like friendship or romance to more significant and profound changes in mindset and outlook.
An example of a reluctant hero driven by reward would be Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit trilogy. Despite his initial reluctance to leave his home in the Shire, it is the promise of the dragon-guarded hoard in the Lonely Mountain that eventually drives him to accompany the dwarves in reclaiming the treasure.
Pursuing A Dream
From the greedy to the idealist. We all have dreams, hopes and ambitions, and giving your reluctant hero something to pursue can be a great way of amping up the stakes and making their story feel more potent. These dreams are given more weight if shown via flashback or an earlier time in the character’s life; the passing of time and obstacles life can throw down not only gives a sense of longevity to these dreams but also demonstrates how passionate your hero truly is about obtaining them. Events in your story can be thrown in that remind the hero about how much it means to them, reigniting their motivation to pursue the narrative.
An example of a reluctant hero pursuing a dream would be Cecily Wong in Amy McCulloch’s Breathless. It is her passion for overcoming her fears, getting an opportunity to interview Charles McVeigh and launch her journalism career that spurs her through the plot, even if she expresses plenty of reluctance as the challenges pile up.
To make your reluctant protagonist believable, you must plant the seed for their passion early on. Events in the plot should relate to these dreams and serve to spur them on. In these sorts of stories, a resolution usually cannot be achieved until the hero either achieves their dream, or it becomes impossible to get their hands on.
Sense Of Duty
They may be ‘reluctant’ heroes, but that doesn’t mean your protagonists can’t still be driven by their morals or their position. Perhaps they find themselves diving into a situation because it is the right thing to, or an authority figure or higher power has tasked them. These heroes tap into the relatable times when we have done things we may not want to, and become far more likeable because of it.
These types of stories usually centre around scenarios where there is something bad brewing, and a hero realising that they are the only ones who can intervene. Seeing a character step into the role of a hero casts them in a positive light, and makes readers root for their success more.
Characters driven by a sense of duty typically work alone, with the ability to consult or work with others sometimes watering down these morals and characteristics. The glory should be for these protagonists. If they do buddy up with an ally or allies, it is vital they maintain the majority of the spotlight and that these friends match their motivations.
An example of a sense of duty hero would be Paul Atreides from Frank Herbert’s Dune. When his family gains control of the desert planet Arrakis, he is driven by a sense of duty to make difficult decisions for the sake of his people, navigating political intrigue and battles for survival.
Lust For Revenge
Revenge has proven time and time again as one of the biggest drivers for characters in the world of fiction. Whether it be a job, a loved one, a possession or simply the status quo of the life they know and love, taking something treasured away from a protagonist can be the fuel to the fire needed to ignite them into action. The secret to these reluctant heroes is to showcase how they wouldn’t be drawn into these conflicts without this first strike.
An act of injustice can be a great tool for establishing empathy from your readers. It can also secure their loyalty throughout a plot through a desire to see justice carried through. It’s important to demonstrate there is more to these reluctant heroes than just a thirst for revenge, however. They can showcase their morals through positive acts or become entangled in bigger, grander aspects of the plot as they progress.
Celaena Sardothien from Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass is an example of a reluctant protagonist initially driven by revenge. Initially driven by injustices done to her, as the series progresses, she becomes intertwined with larger conflicts with a destiny that stretches further than her vendettas.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
