Disillusionment with traditional heroes is everywhere. Public figures like priests, teachers, and athletes once embodied virtue. But they’re revealing flaws every day that shatter our faith. Even genteel sports aren’t immune, with doping scandals tainting cycling, tennis, and swimming.
Is it any wonder, then, that anti-heroes have captured our imagination? From Tony Soprano to Walter White, and even real-life figures like Donald Trump, we’re drawn to those who break the rules and defy conventions.
After so long abiding by traditional values, perhaps we find something liberating in vicariously embracing the darker side. Anti-heroes also personify our growing distrust of the establishment.
Take Trump. Love him or hate him, he exudes this anti-hero appeal. Like no politician in US history, he has captured the public’s attention through dystopian vices. Like that of our favorite TV anti-heroes, his allure is rooted in defiance — never mind that he’s more Al Capone than Robin Hood.
Ultimately, though, our fascination says more about us than them. So as you binge-watch the MAGA-dominated news or the latest morally ambiguous streaming series, ask yourself:
- Am I cheering on characters, real or fictional, just because they toss the rulebook aside?
- Am I prepared for a world where their values eclipse the traditional ones we once held dear?
