Die a Hero or Live a Villain?
June 21, 2012
“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”
Harvey Dent spoke these words in the final scene of the movie, Batman: The Dark Knight. It is a quote that leaves you thinking and gives you the ultimatum of either dying a hero or living as a villain.
Obviously, this is probably a decision that can’t be made over night. This is a decision that you have to sit down, grab a cup of coffee and weigh both of the options.
Being a hero is a prestigious honor. A hero is someone who is looked up to, someone who is there for others to help them decide between good and evil. At the same time, being a hero is a dangerous task. It means standing up for something that you believe in and defending it to the death. There are all different kinds of heroes. These heroes can range from sports athletes on the field to any army solider on the battlefield. Being a hero is not an easy job, it a lifestyle that you have to live by. Would you risk it all? Are you willing to take a bullet just to die with this prestigious title?
Hero or Villain? What side do you choose?
A villain is pretty much the anti-hero. This is the person who does not have a drop of kindness or remorse for anyone. They are there just to satisfy them-self and to make sure that the hero doesn’t achieve their goal. Some people act like villains in our everyday lives. I am sure that you know someone who is always jealous of another. The same person who just hates to see others succeed and that no one else can achieve happiness unless it includes them-self.
Some people are able to embrace the villain role though. There are even people who feel bad for villains and think that they can be cured to one day become a good person. Many flourish when faced with evil. They enjoy the hate and love being the bad guy. They love being the rebel and standing for everything that is wrong. Is it worth it? Would you want to live with the title of being a villain and having the world turned against you?
In the famous quote by Harvey Dent, he said that if you have the chance to die a hero and don’t take it, then you will eventually turn into a villain.
Taking the chance to die, means you are indeed a hero. Standing for something and risking death, are traits only heroes have.
After seeing both sides of the quote and thinking it over, I think I would much rather die a hero. There are people who believe in something, but aren’t willing sacrifice in order to show their true belief. I believe if you are willing to sacrifice your own life for something you believe in, it shows the kind of person you are. It shows that you are indeed a hero no matter what anyone says and you willing to pay the ultimate price to show it.
June 21, 2012 at 9:24 pm
Gosh I love Batman….. !!! =)
June 21, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Batman is easily one of the top three superhero dudes ever :D
June 21, 2012 at 9:32 pm
I’m always hating on poor Batman. He doesn’t really deserve it but…I can’t help thinking that without all his billions, he wouldn’t be much of a superhero at all! I’ll cut back on the “hater-ade”…
June 21, 2012 at 11:16 pm
How could you hate on Batman?! I mean he’s out there trying to help others. It does help that he has an awesome car and stuff, but at least he is out there doing good and not bad!
June 26, 2012 at 2:20 pm
I dont know! I’m just a hater I guess! :)
June 26, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Well you are forgiven :D
June 22, 2012 at 12:05 am
Very well written post! Loved it! By the way, Batman is AWESOME!!!!!
June 22, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Batman, well he is… the man! lol Thank you so much!
June 26, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Very good post.
That was a very powerful quote from Dent. However, while reading and thinking, I can’t think of any hero (in Marvel or DC) who “missed their chance” and became a villain in the end.
June 26, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Thank you so much. It really is one of the greatest quotes of all-time. I can’t think of any either, but hey you never know it could happen one day.
November 7, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Magneto comes to mind.
August 8, 2012 at 5:44 pm
I’m a villain destruction is what I live for
August 8, 2012 at 8:54 pm
lol We’ll when I see you on the streets I’m turning and running the other way!
August 17, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Nice story. I like the quote from Harvey Dent. I would like to think of myself as a hero, but I’m sure there is always one person who would disagree.
August 17, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Anyone can be a hero, so I am sure that you are!
August 30, 2012 at 10:19 am
Hi, very interesting. Thanks for liking my blog “Life on
The Creek.”
August 30, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Thanks and no problem!
August 31, 2012 at 8:08 am
Thank you for stopping by and liking my post Mimicking. I think if you are really a hero, you are not thinking about the title, you are just exhibiting courage in the face of dangerr.
August 31, 2012 at 12:38 pm
That’s true. There are many different definitions of what a hero is, so a hero can mean many different things to many different people.
September 17, 2012 at 1:30 am
The Batman is my hero. So much better than Superman. So much more to lose.
September 17, 2012 at 2:20 am
I agree, Batman is awesome!
October 5, 2012 at 2:25 am
Very well written. I do like it and admire it.
My sincere thanks for your ‘Like’ on my blog post. I too have done the same thing on yours, and am following you with immediate effect.
October 5, 2012 at 11:08 am
Thanks a lot and no problem!
December 16, 2012 at 6:23 pm
The question is, are you living for yourself or for something bigger?
December 16, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Exactly, who really knows! o.O
February 19, 2013 at 1:36 am
Thanks for liking my post! I couldn’t help but comment on this for two reasons:
1) You quoted one of my favorite lines from that movie.
2) You pretty much inspired me to write a blog surrounding that theme, So, I must give credit where credit is due!
Here’s the post if you care to read! Thanks again.
http://idroppedout.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/deface-the-villain-embrace-the-villain/
February 19, 2013 at 10:52 am
Me? inspiring other writers, that’s awesome! lol
March 24, 2013 at 4:02 am
You don’t inevitably have to die to be hero, nor is it inevitable that if you don’t die you’ll become a vilain. To be a hero you have to put what you believe to be right above your own comfort or safety. Some little girls in Afghanistan do it on a daily basis! My kind of hero/heroine.
March 24, 2013 at 5:05 pm
I agree! But, it just makes the question more intriguing adding the stipulation on top. I am sure everyone would just chose live a hero and there would be no point for the debate! lol
March 31, 2013 at 11:48 am
Very nicely said, about sacrificing your own life for something you believe in. Heroes and villains have been on my mind lately. I think a lot of people are somewhere in between, and that at some point everyone will be called upon to choose. Some people dedicate their life to Good, and this must surely mean that there are others who dedicate their life to Evil. In between are shades of grey and minds that can change. A true Villain must reject the chance to be a hero, every time it comes up. I want to stand my ground for what I believe in.
Thanks for liking my first poem on my newborn blog!
April 1, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Exactly, as they say, “It’s better to stand for something than fall for anything” totally true though!
April 6, 2013 at 4:04 am
Sometimes I think people “become” heroes without thinking about it. For example, the man who saw this person on the subway tracks a few weeks ago in NY city—he just jumped in to save the person–there was no time to think about being “good” or “bad”….that person’s innate goodness just took over!
So does someone decide to become a hero or a villain? Perhaps our life choices up to that minute of unconscious decision helps to determine which way we will go?
Nonetheless, great article! Well thought out and written clearly!
April 6, 2013 at 11:08 am
Thanks! I heard about that story too. The guy is pretty crazy for falling on the tracks in the first place(who knows why) lol But, I totally agree
May 25, 2013 at 10:09 pm
what is wrong when we all have our own definition? should we all tip toe on stilts around another because their morals do not correspond with our own? should we only interact with those who possess the same characteristics as ourselves? or should we seek diversity and difference for the less likely of heroes?
this is beautifully written, sometimes we have to die a few times as a bad soul to return for the lesser of the two evils. i love this :)
May 26, 2013 at 12:17 am
Awesome response! the “Should we all tip toe around” line was amazing I totally agree & I’m glad you really liked it! :P
June 7, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Very nice work, enjoyed it immensely.
June 7, 2013 at 11:50 pm
Thanks so much!