Eber enters the story with the intention of killing himself because he has a terminal illness. He believed it was the best thing to do so he wouldn't be a big trouble for his family to take care of him. While he believed he was being heroic, I honestly think its sad that he would rather die then let his family take care of him. Because his kids are all grown, he feels like he is no longer needed and would be more trouble than helpful to live. I think his intentions were selfish because of all the pain he would cause his family by taking his own life, and that he needed to trust his family would be there for him whether he be healthy or sick.
While Eber can be seen has a hero for saving Robin from drowning in the lake, ultimately Robin saved Eber from himself. By getting through that threshold hold point of deciding whether or not to go in the lake and save the boy, he regains some of the fire to live he had before he became sick. Saving Robin showed him that he can still be useful in this world despite his illness.
Similar to Eber, Robin also has to get over that threshold point after Eber goes and saves him in the lake and he is running home. At first, all he can think about is running home to his mom, but then he remembers the man that saved him before and has to decide whether to try and run back and save him, or run to his house and seek help. In most hero stories, Robin would be considered a coward for not immediately putting Eber's needs before his own and run back and try to save him. However looking at this from a more realistic perspective, what Robin did was actually smarter because he knew he might not have the strength to get them both to safety.
Being a more realistic everyday hero is more about being smart and doing what you think would be the most beneficial to help the situation, even if that means you aren't doing the saving yourself.
Similar to Eber, Robin also has to get over that threshold point after Eber goes and saves him in the lake and he is running home. At first, all he can think about is running home to his mom, but then he remembers the man that saved him before and has to decide whether to try and run back and save him, or run to his house and seek help. In most hero stories, Robin would be considered a coward for not immediately putting Eber's needs before his own and run back and try to save him. However looking at this from a more realistic perspective, what Robin did was actually smarter because he knew he might not have the strength to get them both to safety.
Being a more realistic everyday hero is more about being smart and doing what you think would be the most beneficial to help the situation, even if that means you aren't doing the saving yourself.
I don't think Eber is selfish necessarily. I think he's just afraid of becoming unneeded and unwanted. He's afraid his family will grow tired of taking care of him. But he's also afraid of admitting those fears, so he convinces himself that he's being selfless so that he can run away. I'd call that a little cowardly, but ultimately a human instinct.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Thea. Eber is just tired of, what he thinks, being a thorn in everyone's side. Like in Victory Lap, I think that Eber is the catalyst for Robin's heroism. Robin never views himself as a hero, but when put into the situation he ultimately does the right thing.
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