When I think of a hero, I think of a selfless person who puts themselves in danger or at some kind of risk in order to rescue or protect someone else. In my mind the kind of person who would be a hero is a certain ‘kind’ of person, in other words, I generalize the hero personality as being someone who is confident, eager to help, thinks of others before themselves, and sacrifices their own needs. But I think I have been wrong to lump all heroes into the same category. Of course, stereotypes are usually a bad idea.

I finished The Children of Men book last night. I found it to be somewhat of a chore to read and the ending was unsatisfying. I was asking myself why I felt like that. I think it’s because I really don’t like negative, grumpy self-focused people and that describes the main character, Theo. But the interesting thing is that even though he is like that, he is aware of it and sometimes feels bad about being like this. And despite this, he is the hero of the story.

Throughout his life, Theo does the right things and he helps people, but he does it reluctantly. He is unemotional and has trouble forming attachments even to his own wife. While he is risking his life for this group of strangers, he is judging them and complaining about it. Part of the reason he does it is that he has a crush on one of the women, but when it turns out that she is not quite perfect, he is pretty harsh in his judgments of her actions. But even so, he keeps on doing the right thing in spite of his opinions.

As far as the ending, I won’t give it away. I didn’t have any idea how it would end, but I kept hoping at some point that Theo’s personality would change. Like most of us, he did not change, but he kept doing the right thing. Isn’t that all we can really hope for? Let’s be honest. I saw myself in him. Hopefully not quite as self-focused, but I can be emotionally distant and judgmental. I try hard not to be like that, and I usually do the right thing, but I can relate to his interpersonal struggles.

It reminds of the parable of the Two Sons in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21. In this parable two sons are asked to work by the father. One says he will, but then he doesn’t do it. The other says no, but then he does go and work. Which one was right according to Jesus? The one who did the right thing.

Words are meaningless if not accompanied by action. But are actions meaningless if not done for the right reason? If a hero saves a life while complaining that the person caused their own danger, is he a hero? What really matters is whether a person is willing to put themselves at risk and do the right thing even if they are emotionally conflicted about it.

In Children of Men, the people in the group that the main character risks his life for are trying to do the right thing. They are very conscientious and willing to die for their beliefs. But one of them changes his mind and abandons the group. He is like the first son who said one thing and did another.

All in all, the book does have some interesting parts, and the plot is thought-provoking, it’s just a little too slow for my taste. Have you read it? Let me know what you thought of it in the comments.