Category: Katy Schwartz

   Well, it is that time of the year!  Therefore, since it is Christmas time, I decided that it would be more than appropriate to write about a beloved, well-known Christmas character – a character that is a surprising representation of the holidays and a perfect example of someone who started out as a villain and became a hero, all for the joy of the Christmas spirit.

We have all heard about the evil villains who do cruel things and have to be stopped by the heroes so as to bring peace and order back to innocent people – but the villain just keeps coming back time and time again, committing the same crimes, creating the same mayhem, striking fear and hatred in the eyes of the public.  However, we also hear about villains who reach, for varying reasons, certain turning-points, causing them to come to the decision that they no longer want to do wrong.  Instead, they choose to turn their lives around in hopes of gaining forgiveness and redemption.  Some people view such "heroes" as not being legitimate "heroes," but more so as clever villains who lure people into their corners by pretending to have become heroic, only to reveal to them that they are still just as villainous.  On the other hand, some people do believe that villains are capable of coming to a life-altering realization in the hopes of legitimately redeeming themselves.  In the case of this specific blog post, since it has to do with Christmas, we will assume that our villain-turned-hero became a genuine hero. 

We are all familiar with Charles Dickens's classic Christmas story, A Christmas Carol – a story that is chock full of magic and wonder, teaching all kinds of valuable lessons and morals along the way.  The main character of the story, Ebenezer Scrooge, (whose name alone puts a probable sour taste in the mouths of those who hear it), is first introduced to readers at the very beginning of the story, sitting in his counting-house on Christmas Eve.  Constantly described as a "€¦mean-spirited, miserly old man," Scrooge has absolutely nothing in the way of Christmas spirit and reacts to anyone's attempts at wishing him a Merry Christmas with the notorious line, "Bah!  Humbug!"  Although he, himself, is incredibly wealthy, Scrooge refuses to donate any money to charity during the holiday season and refuses to spend money on heating coals for the fire, thus causing his humble but poor clerk, Bob Cratchit, to work in the wintry cold.  Furthermore, Scrooge's lack of Christmas spirit shines when he forces poor Cratchit to work on Christmas Day. 

Once Scrooge returns to his cold, empty apartment later that night, he is visited by the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley, who, as punishment for having lived a life of greed and self-indulgence, is forced to wander the earth, whilst being weighted down by heavy chains and locks.  Marley forewarns Scrooge that, throughout the course of the night, each hour on the hour, he will be visited by three spirits in the hopes of helping him to turn his life around in order to prevent sharing the same fate as Marley.  Scrooge, although startled, thinks nothing of the bizarre visit and drifts off to sleep. 

Like clockwork, each hour on the hour, the spirits start to visit Scrooge.  The first one, the Ghost of Christmas Past, takes Scrooge back in time to past Christmases.  While seeing his childhood, Scrooge starts to realize everything he sacrificed in his life because of his intense greed and unrelenting love for money.  Scrooge is especially moved and emotionally-affected as he watches his fiancée leave his young adult self and sees that he does not go after her.  (Scrooge is invisible to all of the people who he sees on his journeys with the spirits).  Deeply saddened, Scrooge is returned to his room only to, one hour later, be visited by the next spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present.  It is during this journey that Scrooge views Christmas as it will happen that very year.  Scrooge comes face-to-face with Bob Cratchit's large and jovial family sitting down to a Christmas dinner that is far too small and insufficient for the large crowd of people.  Scrooge also sees Cratchit's crippled son, Tiny Tim, for whom the family, (because of the small salary that Scrooge provides to Cratchit), does not have enough money for surgery.  Scrooge is also brought to the Christmas party that his nephew, Fred is having – and to which Scrooge was actually invited and declined the invitation.  He sees how much fun everyone is having and everything on which he is missing out.  Lastly, Scrooge encounters the Ghost of Christmas Future, (or the Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come).  This mute spirit shows Scrooge a variety of different images and events that are all related to the recent death of an "€¦unnamed man" – a man who was rich, but never shared any of his riches with anybody and showed nobody the slightest bit of mercy; therefore, it seemed as though not a single person was mourning this mysterious man's death.  Scrooge is soon led to a graveyard only to see a headstone with his name on it – the unnamed, stingy man was him!  Scrooge, therefore, begged with the spirit to alter his fate and save him, promising to "€¦renounce his insensitive, avaricious ways" and to honor Christmas and everything for which it stands.

 

The next thing Scrooge knows, he is back home, safe in his bed, on Christmas Morning.  Now, the once bitter, selfish man miraculously becomes grateful and "€¦overwhelmed with joy by the chance to redeem himself."  He, therefore, starts performing touching acts of kindness – he donates large amounts of money to charities, attends his nephew's Christmas party, and, sends a giant turkey over to the Cratchit house.  (He also decides to give Cratchit the day off and he even makes a personal visit over to the Cratchit house to spread his newfound Christmas cheer).  Not only does Scrooge begin and continue treating "€¦his fellow human beings with kindness, generosity, and, warmth," he does so while honoring Christmas "€¦with all [of] his heart."   

Not only does the story of A Christmas Carol stress the importance of appreciating what one has, it also emphasizes the value of giving to the less-fortunate and those in need.  It is probable that with the creation of such a menacingly selfish character as Ebenezer Scrooge, Charles Dickens hoped to illustrate that "€¦change is possible, [no matter how] set we are in our ways."  In other words, Dickens was showing that no matter how miserable or "hard-hearted" a person is, there is hope that he or she can be reformed.  Therefore, with the creation of Scrooge, Dickens showcased that even the most "€¦self-serving, insensitive people can be converted into charitable, caring, and socially conscious members of society" – and with the inclusion of each of the three spirits within the story, "Warmth, generosity, and, overall goodwill [overcame] Scrooge’s bitter apathy as he encounters and learns from his memory, [understands] the ability to empathize, and, [realizes] his fear of death."  In a nutshell, Ebenezer Scrooge is able to go from being a coldhearted, lonely man to a vibrant, charitable man overnight, literally.  He received his wakeup call and reached his turning point during a series of life-reflections and a string of dug-up memories.  Whether the encounters were real or merely a very vivid dream, they were still enough to spark a desire to change in an extremely rigid man – thus showing that even the most selfish and villainous of individuals have the ability to redeem themselves and change for the better.  In this case, this transformation causes a strong desire to help people and make positive contributions in their lives – hence, a "villain-turned-hero." 

Below is a video clip taken from the 1999 version of A Christmas Carol, starring Patrick Stewart.  This clip is from the end of the movie during which it is Christmas Day and Ebenezer Scrooge begins his new, charitable, and, gratifying life.

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        In my opinion, although villains are representative of evil and everything that it stands for, a successful villain still has the ability to reach out to and touch people, in some way or another.  Whether it is fear, sympathy, pity, etc., a villain evokes some sort of an emotion within people and, in a way, reaches out to people and affects them.  At times, we might even be able to relate, on some level, to villains – or at least have an understanding from where it is that they are coming.  Or at other times, we might never form an understanding as to the intentions and the motives of a villain.  Regardless, one thing is for sure – villains form a hold on us and cause us to subconsciously react in inadvertent ways.  For example, we could, unintentionally, be so incredibly moved by the actions of a villain that we might actually grow to admire him or her, not necessarily because of his or her actions, but more so because of what he or she represents and the image that is produced.  That being said, meet Stanley Kowalski from Tennessee Williams' play, A Streetcar Named Desire: Exhibit A.   

Taking place during the late 1940's in a run-down, working class district of New Orleans, A Streetcar Named Desire opens with a showcase of Stanley Kowalski as both an egalitarian and the portrait of the perfect male prototype for that specific time period.  He is faithful to his friends, proud of his Polish heritage, and, shows a love for his wife, Stella, that is absolutely awe-provoking.  However, at the same time, Stanley has, time and time again, been referred to as a character who possesses an intensely "€¦animalistic physical vigor that is [more than] evident in his love of work, of fighting, and, of sex" with his main amusements being "€¦gambling, bowling, sex, and, drinking." 

All of these animalistic and brutish qualities of Stanley are especially exposed after Stella's sister, Blanche, decides to make an unannounced visit to the home of Stanley and Stella.  Right away, Stanley begins to look down on and form an intense hatred for Blanche because she is "€¦a relic from a defunct social hierarchy" and had an aristocratic past that she still has a tendency to showboat.  Also, she was seen as a prostitute in her hometown because of her various liaisons and sexual encounters, not to mention the relations that she had with one of her seventeen-year-old students.  Therefore, Stanley sees her as toxic, untrustworthy, and, he by no means, appreciates the fact that she constantly makes it apparent that she thinks that she is better than him and Stella; not to mention the fact that she consistently talks down to Stanley and openly labels him as being primitive, ape-like, and, bestial – all while demeaning his Polish roots by calling him such offensive names as a "Polack."  As a result, not surprisingly, Blanche becomes Stanley's target and force to beat for the remainder of the play.

 

Throughout the play, it is obvious that both Stanley and Blanche are fighting for Stella.  Stanley wants his wife to remain on his side and continue being the passive, supportive wife that she is to him.  On the other hand, Blanche wants Stella to leave Stanley in hopes that she will return with Blanche back to their childhood days of wealth and luxury.  Stanley notices these motives of Blanche and relentlessly stops at nothing to ruin Blanche and win the ultimate prize – Stella. 

With alcoholic and abusive tendencies towards his pregnant wife, Stanley, by no means, has the patience for Blanche that Stella has.  With the intention of making Blanche's life a living nightmare, Stanley goes to great lengths to make sure that she is not getting her way.  He exposes information that he discovers about Blanche's past to both Stella and to Blanche's newfound lover and friend of Stanley's, Mitch, subsequently sabotaging the relationship between Blanche and Mitch.  He constantly criticizes her, he buys her a bus ticket back home for her birthday in order to rid her from his home, and, towards the end of the play, he rapes her while he is in a drunken stupor.  The most unnerving part about all of this is that, in the midst of all of his fits of aggression and proofs of dominance, he does not show the slightest bit of remorse and sympathy for Blanche.  All he wants is to see her squirm.

It is at the very end of the play that the constant battle between Stanley and Blanche comes to an immediate conclusion.  The play ends with Blanche falling into a state of extreme psychosis and delirium and, as a result, is taken away to a mental institution – an executive decision unanimously made by the members of the household.  This, of course, means that the villain, Stanley, has prevailed.  Stella obviously sided with her husband, thus endowing upon Stanley the trophy that he constantly sought throughout the entire ordeal.  Not only that, but Stanley also succeeded because he had won the prolonged war against his enemy and was able to proudly retain his position as the dominant, "€¦social leveler," that he had always been.  The play so poignantly comes to an ultimate end with an image of Stanley, Stella, and, the new baby – the seamless American family in the 1940's, or so one might think.

It is pretty obvious and can easily be argued that Stanley Kowalski is a villain.  From his constant string of verbal and physical abuse, to the ultimate extreme act of raping his sister-in-law, Stanley is infamously known as one of the most aggressively dominating characters in American theatre.  However, Stanley's ability to do a complete 360-degree rotation and all of a sudden turn on the charm and win-over Stella, (no matter how aggressive he might be towards her), makes him a villain who, in my opinion, has the potential to be rather lovable.  Or maybe my admiration for Stanley Kowalski purely stems from the fact that I have a tendency to associate the character with the stunning Marlon Brando.  Regardless, Stanley Kowalski will always be a villain who, with the tiniest smile and faintest bat of the eye, could become an image of desire.  The title of the play does not lie.

Below is a video clip from the 1951 film, A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski, Vivien Leigh as Blanche, and, Kim Hunter as Stella.  The video really does a great job showcasing the rollercoaster ride of Stanley's moods – charming and pleasant to aggressive and abusive, not to mention how the smallest push could be enough to completely set him off.  The hateful relationship between Stanley and Blanche is also very well-represented while he completely ignores her presence at the dinner table.

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       I wholeheartedly believe that a hero is somebody to whom people can relate.  Just for a moment, push aside any and all schemas and stereotypes typically associated with a hero.  True, the ability to fly, the capacity to effortlessly lift heavy objects, and, the opportunity to wear such fashionable costumes would all be nice – but consider this notion: a hero who is just like you and me, an average Joe who deals with the same conflicts of everyday life that everyone experiences.  However, it is the ability of these down-to-earth individuals to face the obstacles that life hands to them and overcome them with the greatest of ease and poise and still come through shining in the end that makes them heroic.  These are the characteristics that make a person a hero, but a hero that touches people on a personal level to whom people could also relate. 

"He is old, sedentary, quiet to the point of taciturnity, and, uninteresting€¦he [does] not do the things our schoolmates' fathers [do]€¦he sits in the living room and reads€¦he [wears] glasses [and] he [is] nearly blind in his left eye;" this is how Atticus Finch's daughter, Scout, described her father in Harper Lee's classically-acclaimed novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.  Wait a second, though.  Does this description not bear a striking similarity to Clark Kent?  Wears glasses, quiet and mysterious, a bit dull and nerdy – these are all characteristics of Superman's alter-ego.  Now, I am not saying that we should compare Atticus Finch to Superman, but the comparison is, indeed, accurate because it exemplifies the fact that a true hero could come in the most unexpected of packages, for example, the all-American family man. 

To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the small, fictitious town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the era of the Great Depression – a time when racial barriers were at their peak.  However, Atticus Finch, a successfully-acclaimed lawyer, is one of the few people in this Bible-thumping town who believes in racial equality.  Throughout the novel, Atticus's dedication to instilling this principle is apparent through all of the courtrooms scenes wherein Atticus is defending Mr. Tom Robinson, an African American man who is accused of raping a white woman.  It is also during these courtroom scenes that the humbly heroic persona within Atticus is probably the most apparent.  Despite the probability of losing the case, it is through his determination to prove Robinson's innocence that Atticus is putting himself and his two children on the frontline, subjecting them to the anger and hostility of this predominantly white-populated town.  Through his audacious argument that "€¦although there probably are a few black men who are capable of crimes, €˜this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men,'" he is able to spark potential empathy within the jury, unfortunately, though, his client is still found guilty.  With a focus on "justice and equality," Atticus Finch fully represents the justice system at its finest, without hardly even breaking a sweat – and if he does, he does not allow us to see it. 

So, now that we are well aware of Atticus's power and dedication in the courtroom, it is time to look at this complexly static character in the household – not including any childish opinions that Scout may or may not hold regarding him.  A widower raising two young kids completely on his own, Atticus Finch is, right off the bat, living a life to which a large amount of people, both men and women, are accustomed to living every day.  Therefore, considering the circumstances, Atticus takes his wisdom and strength in the courtroom and applies them to the household, but on a different level.  Although quiet and a bit reticent at times, Atticus is still someone who is sought out for his advice and his moral justifications.  It is also these values of morality and justice with which he wishes to enlighten his children, thus allowing himself to be regarded as the "moral backbone" within the novel.  Stating that he "€¦[does] his best to love everybody," including those considered outsiders from society – like his client, Tom Robinson, and the mysterious and misunderstood neighbor, Boo Radley, for example – Atticus Finch is, without a doubt, taking a step outside of the stereotypical mainstream box, in a time when and in a location where racism was running rampant.  While most white southerners adhered to racist beliefs, it was of the utmost importance to Atticus that he do everything in his power to instill the ideal of equality in his children.   

Whether you became familiar with the character of Atticus Finch through Gregory Peck's portrayal of him in the 1962 film version of To Kill a Mockingbird, or from reading Harper Lee's novel, or, even through this Blog, itself, it is probably safe to assume that everybody can relate to Atticus in some way or another.  A humble man living during a time when what he deems as "right" is viewed by society as being "wrong,"  who just wants the best for his children, and, is risking a lot for himself and his family by stressing and fighting for what he believes to be morally and ethically appropriate.  Although this determination and risk-taking is exemplary of a hero, Atticus regards it as simply doing his job, both as a lawyer and as a father.  Although we may see him as a hero, he certainly does not see himself as such.  How could a person possibly be any more humble?  

                                                                                                                                               

Since Atticus Finch is a hero to whom everyone could relate, although we are no longer living during a time of extreme segregation, we still might as well attempt to heed his profound words of wisdom; because, after all, "€¦it is a sin to kill a mockingbird."   

Below is a video with various images taken from the movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, accompanied by the voice of Gregory Peck, playing Atticus Finch, during various courtroom scenes.  Notice the calm, cool, and, collected demeanor that he possesses throughout.  Amazing.

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 Is it possible for someone who we initially regard as a hero to later become a villain?  We hear stories of common, everyday people going on to overcome extraordinary odds, either intentionally or unintentionally, and potentially being deemed as having acquired a heroic status.  We have also heard accounts of cold-hearted villains who reach a turning point in their lives and make the decision to represent good, as opposed to evil.  However, is it plausible for such a caring and selfless individual to transform, either consciously or subconsciously, into someone who is greedy and unreservedly irresponsible?  Think about it. 

Ever since his childhood growing up in Hanley – Staffordshire, England, Edward Smith had always showed an avid love for the sea.  When he was just thirteen-years-old, he left school and moved to Liverpool beginning a career and apprenticeship in seafaring.  Constantly rising in stature with every endeavor he would undertake, eventually earning his Extra Master's Certificate, he was well on his way to fulfilling his lifelong dream of working on the sea.  Also, after having later joined the Royal Naval Reserve, Smith was from then on qualified as a full Lieutenant.  In addition to all of his outstanding achievements and sterling credentials, Edward Smith also held the distinguished position of Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve.  Other honors that Smith received throughout his career included the Transport Medal, the Royal Naval Reserve's "Long Service Decoration," the privilege of commanding the White Star Line's newest and largest ships on their maiden voyages, and, the all-around recognition of being a "safe captain" who people knew and trusted.    

Amidst his continued string of successes, one small mishap which Captain Smith faced was when a vessel under his command, the Olympic, collided with a British Royal Navy cruiser, the H.M.S. Hawke, in September of 1911.  Although it was the British warship that crashed into his ship, the Olympic was blamed for the incident because of its sheer massive size and intense suction power that allegedly pulled the Hawke over, causing it to crash into the Olympic.  Regardless of this incident and the financial toll that it took on the White Star Line, Captain Smith was still able to move on with his head held high and his dignity still intact.    

      However, Captain Edward J. Smith is probably most remembered for taking the R.M.S. Titanic on her maiden voyage in April of 1912.  With an exceptional reputation and a description by many of his passengers as being very flamboyant, Smith was also very popular amongst them.  As a matter of fact, it is believed that a majority of his passengers "€¦would only sail the Atlantic in a ship commanded by him."  Obviously adored for his leadership and people skills, Smith was seen as "€¦competent and well-liked" by the masses, very much exemplifying a hero who is both relatable and unafraid to take the bull by the horns.  (We can even see Captain Smith's amiability in the 1997 film rendition, "Titanic," for example, through his hospitable nature and choice to sit down to dinner with his passengers). 

Regardless of all of his accomplishments and his vast amount of popularity, we cannot overlook the cold, hard facts – we all know how the story of the Titanic ended.  Whether you received your knowledge and understanding of the legend of the Titanic from the acclaimed movie or from research and nonfiction accounts of the incident, we can all agree with the possibility that the encounter with the iceberg could have potentially been avoided. 

Apparently, throughout the course of the evening leading up to the disaster, Captain Smith had received at least two warnings of icebergs in the path of the Titanic, with accompanying advisories to reduce the ship's speed.  However, Smith did not fully heed these notifications because it is believed that he wanted to make it to New York in a record amount of time.  Therefore, on numerous occasions throughout the process, he actually ordered more speed for the ship, despite the warnings in his hand.  Also, bearing in mind the vessel's title of being "unsinkable," it is believed that Smith made the automatic assumption that "€¦anything big enough to sink the ship, [will be seen in time for them to turn around]."  Also, when it came to actually being proactive during the process of saving the passengers after the collision, Smith's "€¦legendary skills of leadership seemed to have left him, he was curiously indecisive and unusually cautious" all of a sudden – the complete opposite of the man everyone had originally known him to be. 

In an effort to beat the clock with an overconfident attitude, Captain Smith's actions were those of a competitive nature and sparked by potential greed and selfishness.  Caused by his negligence regarding multiple, blatant warnings of potential dangers, Smith put the lives of 2,200 passengers and crew members in danger.  Overall, 1,500 people lost their lives.  Thus, the question lingers – could all of this have been avoided through the mere heeding of a warning? 

Below is a video tribute to Captain Edward J. Smith comprised of various clips from the movie, Titanic, starting with images of Smith in all of his star-studded glory and ending with his noble, (or necessary), decision to go down with the ship.

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