Another Attack on Hero Worship
The nihilistic motivation behind the new term “Main Character Syndrome”
As someone who browses online content frequently, for purposes of entertainment or getting a pulse on the culture, I often stumble upon new internet lingo and terms that get popularized and circulated. And even more often, those who use such terms do not understand the implication of the ideas sourcing these terms.
A recent example I found is called “Main Character Syndrome.” What people refer to when using this term is someone who believes they are the protagonist in their own story, despite not having characteristics of a hero. They could, for instance, exaggerate the traumas of their childhood, overstate the reach of their abilities, or posture as a benefactor to humanity, all to sell a more dramatic story to others — and most of all — to themselves. In addition, those charged with this condition typically identify with heroes they admire and believe their own character reflects the hero they worship. The pejorative “Main Character Syndrome” undercuts their grandiose pretensions of their position and endeavors.
Are people who overestimate themselves deserving of insult? Sure. But here is the problem. What this pejorative fails to recognize is that we all are the main character of our own stories. That’s actually true. Everything you do in your life matters and redounds to your benefit or injury, your success or your failures. Setting in motion actions — with your own conscious intention — to improve your circumstances in the face of an alternative is in fact a heroic endeavor. And seeing parts of yourself reflected in the art you experience in the form of heroes endeavoring to achieve their own values is a major reason to enjoy art in the first place.
Now, why do I claim this term is nihilistic, as opposed to simply mean-spirited? For an idea to be nihilistic means to destroy for destruction’s sake, as opposed, for example, to gain a positive value fraudulently. And what this term attempts to accomplish is package-deal hero worship as self-aggrandizement. In other words, anyone who admires or believes themselves a hero — validly or otherwise — can always be met with this insult. And these admirations, of both themselves and their hero, is a major source of spiritual fuel to continue moving forward. Appreciating the fact of their own character reflected in the hero who is worthy is a deep psychological and philosophical need everyone — including the naysayers — possesses. Driving a wedge between a man’s needs and the source of what satisfies it is nihilistic. Making fun of serious values people hold bullies people out of taking anything seriously, including their very lives.
For those who are in fact deserving of identifying with and appreciating the hero they worship, should do so guiltlessly, and tell these petty low-life's they are in fact worthy.
