At 8:51 AM -0500 3/22/0, Patricia H. Latham wrote: >Evan Rosenfield wrote: > >Isn't an evil hero impossible? > >Evil heroes, while less usual than non-evil ones, are not impossible. > >Two examples: > >Richard III (1996) or any other version, has held popular imagination since >the late 1500's because the audience finds a guilty pleasure in the >treachery of Richard III. > >The Talented mr. Ripley (1999) has much the same appeal. Tom Ripley, as >intended by Patricia Highsmith, his creator, is an almost noble esthete >whose life-style is supported by fraud, treachery, and murder, all of which >are disregarded by the audience. > >Peter Latham > Isn't this all just a confusion/conflation of the terms "hero" and "protagonist"? The protagonist is the main character; a hero is to be admired and even emulated. If "protagonist" is substituted for the word "hero" in the original message, I don't think anyone would have any problems with the question. --Richard Leskosky ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]