Anti- Hero
ROY HOBBS (THE NATURAL)
The story is about a boy named ROY HOBBS. The boy who was a player with extra talent for the game and at the same time has an interest towards a lively and happy life. Roy struggled throughout his life to achieve the position that anyone can dream of. The most amazing part of the story and about the character is that he was a natural and God gifted player. At the same time the emotions and the feelings of the Roy has been portrayed very well in the novel as well as in the movie later on. Roy came across many people throughout his life. From the start of his journey towards success and till the end of his successful life, he confronted people with different behaviors. Roy himself was a boy with different emotions and at the same time very realistic approach towards life.
The questions arise that was Roy a real super hero of his game? Was Roy loved by all people and Roy loved the women that came throughout his life or he just used those women as steps towards his success?
The above questions need to answer one by one.
The first question that was asked, was Roy selfish? If yes, then in what ways?
What rules or expectations does he refuse to follow?
Roy Hobbs was a man of determination. He wanted everything in his life no matter what comes in its ways. For winning the game, he does not believe in hard work, but he believed in natural talent. Similarly when emotions come in his way, he used them and played for a while and then moved on. He did not want any specific rules in life to be followed. He wanted to be like a free bird. He wanted everyone just cares about him. When he met a woman, and he came to know that she is a grandmother, he at once came out of her life. So it means he just wanted no rules in his life but the happiness and inner satisfaction was important to him.
Are his motives noble in terms of being true to his own convictions?
Roy Hobbs was a man with extreme eager for name and fame. Roy wanted everything in his life from superstar of the baseball player to a beautiful girl. He was truly convicted to his job. He was a natural player. He did not spend much on his skills; all his skills were God gifted (Melamund). But he wanted no hurdles in the way of his success. For these reasons, he was attracted toward the lure to destroy others and get everything he wants.
Are other people hurt along the way?
The answer is “Yes”. Roy Hobbs hurt many in his way to the success. He was a selfish man, he just thought of himself. He even did not hesitate to kill someone if they come in his way towards his success. Roy Hobbs did not have much vision apart from the game. His only motive was game. When he met a lady named Harriet Bird, she asked from Roy, “What is in your life apart from game”? And Roy’s answer was just nothing but game in his life. So it means Roy was obsessed about his game. For him, game was the only meaning of life nothing else.
In what way he is to be admired? Criticized?
Roy Hobbs can be admired for his full attention and enthusiasm for his profession. But the worst part is his selfish attitude. He just wanted to be a conqueror. He faced success and failures in his life. The life of every human being is full of sorrows and joys. Sometimes one person living very miserable life and the same person can have good life after words and vice versa. But Roy wanted only to be successful. He did not want any failure in his life. Although his initial stages of life was full of struggle and failures. But once he got success, he wanted only one side or part of the life. He was not ready to accept the other part of life as well.
Does he ultimately fail? How?
Roy fails ultimately. And the reason was none other than his self-centered behavior. He was a man who wanted fame, name and money. He wanted to be loved, but he did not want to love and give happiness to others. In his last days of his success when he met a woman, she really wanted Roy to be part of her life and family, but Roy run away from such life.
Does he in any way find redemption?
Yes, he finds redemption. He came to know that his real life is connected to the game. Being playing selfishly and want everything from life is not a good idea. Roy came to know about the bitter side of life. Although Roy life was destroyed in the end when a small kid comes to him and shows the true of picture of Roy. Roy who is now no more a hero, but Roy is a loser with a corrupt moral and personality. Roy cried in the end as he lost everything in his life.
All pretty horses:
This story revolves around a boy named John Grady Cole. He is a boy who sets off on a journey to start a new life after the death of his grandfather. He initially succeeded in getting a job at one of the ranch as a cow boy. The story proceeds further when John Grady gets more and more turning points in his life. The story opens and shows the hidden parts of John personality and his emotions.
There are few questions that are raised. Was John a man with ego, selfishness, or was John a man who loves life and was happy whatever he has in his life.
In what ways he was selfish?
The first most question asked again and again about the character is, that was he a selfish and if “yes” then how. We can judge from his initial settings shown in the play that John was a selfish boy. When his grandfather died, he came out of that place just to live a life that he has dreamt of. He accompanied a friend and travelled to the south where he found a job. John left his home town, and the whole story tells us that his love for adventure left many in trouble. He himself faced many hardships in the way of his dreams. His dreams adopted a way that had bloodshed, had fights and even hatred for many people. He was left alone in the end by his only friend as well. So it was his selfish behavior that made him isolated in the whole world in the end. He just followed the dreams and dreams made him travel on the wrong ways (Carthy).
What rules or expectations does he refuse to follow?
John Grady was a man who does not follow any rules and regulations. He just followed the ways to lead a good life. When one of his friends named Belvin, lost his all clothes, pistol and even horse, John helped his friend. These friends were together to one another till the end of the play.
Are his motives noble in terms of being true to his own convictions?
Yes, John Grady was true to his convictions. Initially when John left his grandfather’s ranch, he knew what his priorities are. He found work at the new ranch and due to his hard work the owner of the ranch started loving his work. John Grady took care of horses in a very professional manner. It was his conviction and dedication to the work that the owner of the ranch give him more responsibilities by looking after the horses in a better way. In the second half of the story when John is arrested and shown helping his friend and struggling for his freedom as well, he did all with great conviction.
Are other people hurt along the way?
John was dedicated to his work at the ranch. He fell in love with the daughter of the ranch owner. And that was unforgivable act for him. The owner was very furious by John’s act of loving his daughter. In the punishment, the owner handed over the John and his friend to the police. So from these points we can see that John did not hurt anyone. Although John had some misunderstanding with his friends but he was not a selfish and mean person.
In what ways he is to be admired? Criticized?
There are many ways for admiring and at the same time criticizing the character. John can be admired for continuous love for his work, but can be criticized as for the sake of his feelings towards a girl was thrown into a prison along with his friend. So the friend also suffered due to him.
Does he ultimately fail? How?
John failed in the end. If we look at the whole story we will come to know that John struggled a lot in his life. When he was with his grandfather, the life was not easy. The ranch was all burdened with the debt. When his grandfather died, he moved away from his hometown and had nothing in his hands but just a horse and one friend. He found a job at someone’s ranch. He worked well, but falling in love with the owner’s daughter became a crime for him. So we can see that his whole life is a story of hard work and difficult situations. He handled all the situations in a very brave manner. And ultimately he succeeded in living free life but at the cost of forgetting his love.
Does he in any way find redemption?
When John was sent into the prison by the owner of the ranch, he survived by fighting with the mighty prisoners. After setting free from prison, he wanted to go back to his love but his love could not be bold enough to challenge her family for him. So John was left alone in the end. And when he went abck to his home town, he also found no one who can welcome him or love him. He had nothing at his hometown. No parents, no place to live, no friends, he was all alone. So we can say that he did not find ant redemption. He was not a bad man or a man with bad intentions, but the way he carried his life made him isolated in the whole world.
References:
Carthy, Comac Mc. All the Pretty Horses: Book 1 of The Border Trilogy. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 11-Aug-2010.
Melamund, Bernard. The Natural: A Novel. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 07-Jul-2003
