GeneralHZRD Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 I haven't finished all the books yet, so there could be things that make this poll irrelevant. But in your personal opinion, do you think Alcatraz Smedry is a terrible person as he repeatedly argues, or do you think he is a hero in spite of his flaws? Also, why's it so storming quiet in this thread? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecthelion III Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Just curious, how far are you in the series? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Am Witless Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Protagonist, yes. He is the main character, after all. Hero, no. I' think I'd save that title for another character in the series. Terrible person...... Maybe. You'll understand once you finish The Dark Talent. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralHZRD Posted October 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 22 hours ago, Ecthelion III said: Just curious, how far are you in the series? Apparently not far enough... I think the middle of the third book. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 He's a short-sighted, emotional, self-conscious idiot desperate for his family's approval. But so is every teenager I know. I think he tries to be a hero. He's just really, really bad at it. Sure, he's made mistakes. A lot. And gotten people killed. But he's never killed anyone himself, only allowed it to happen through his incompetence. He tries to help others, but sometimes his self-preservation instincts distract him. Also, if it's any excuse, he had a lousy childhood, is ravaged by the Dark Talent and his life got flipped turned upside down by the Librarians. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the winter system Posted November 29, 2017 Report Share Posted November 29, 2017 He... tries. I think that might be the important part? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supreme King Z-arc Posted December 19, 2017 Report Share Posted December 19, 2017 Can I vote both? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickbronze Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Technically, yes. Really, no. After all, the dictionary definition of "hero" is simply someone who is looked up to and admired, regardless of whether they deserve such attention. Based on the premise of the series, Alcatraz seems to fit the bill. In the popular interpretation of "hero", I'd say no, not because of any particular flaw or mistake, but because he wallows in his failures instead of trying to fix them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#HUGEAlcatrazFanOverHere!! Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Well as of right now, I don't think so because of the actions at the end of The Dark Talent ( which made me cry* for like 10 mins ) but I will hold my judgement until I read the final book.+ * this is a footnote lol anyway I meant bawl like the world was ending +RUTABEGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supreme King Z-arc Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 So alcatraz is deffinently a terrible person because the events that will happen in the 6th book happened before he started writing any of them.He wrote with the intent of only writing 5 books and he wanted to cause us all the pain. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furamirionind Posted August 20, 2018 Report Share Posted August 20, 2018 This is a really tough question. Altogether, I think it boils down to him being... Neither. He is a kid that tries to do what is right, just like most people. But he only tries when things are convenient, have no repercussions, or is being pushed by his heroic family. Spoiler When things come down to the wire and he is truly pushed: he gives up, takes the easy road. The coward's path. That is not something a true hero would do. If I had to pick one person to be a true hero in these series, it would either be Bastille or the grandfather. Even Alcatraz's father would come into consideration. There is a LOT that happens in these books. If you have not read each one in the series so far, you are missing a LOT of crucial information about who each of these characters are. ...Speaking of which, I really need to reread the series as I haven't read it since "The Dark Talent" came out... : ) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ark1002 Posted August 25, 2018 Report Share Posted August 25, 2018 I say he is a terrible person. But I also say that about most people... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidpen Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 I kinda wanted to put in my two cents on this. I think that Alcatraz wallows in his guilt over that one single action. He has this image of what a hero is that includes someone perfect, someone who would gladly give themselves up for someone else. When he failed some of his internal criteria, he mentally assigned the label "Not a hero" and since everybody viewed him as one anyways, he decided he was a terrible person, since he knew he wasn't the person they thought he was. But when it came down to it, he did try very hard to succeed in doing the right thing. He failed (or at least it seems like he did), which he added into the label of "Not a hero." I don't think he meets the expectations he sets for himself to be a hero, but I think that he qualifies anyways. Heroes are allowed to make mistakes. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BitBitio Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 He's a hero. Yeah. In the end, Alcatraz does what needs to be done. He finishes the job, loves his family, and yes, makes mistakes, but nobody's perfect. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jruesch2 Posted November 16, 2018 Report Share Posted November 16, 2018 Yes, after reading the Dark Talent, I would definitely say Alcatraz is a terrible person. However, that might change after the next book... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feruchemical Bowser Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 On 11/16/2018 at 10:14 AM, Jruesch2 said: Yes, after reading the Dark Talent, I would definitely say Alcatraz is a terrible person. However, that might change after the next book... I wouldn't say he's terrible but certainly not the best. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lidolas Posted July 8, 2020 Report Share Posted July 8, 2020 I'd say for a 13 year-old boy, he did pretty well. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negative_Null Posted July 18, 2020 Report Share Posted July 18, 2020 I think the point Brandon is trying to make with Alcatraz is that being a hero isn't about what you can do, but about what you choose to do. Kind of like Chamber of Secrets' lesson. For most of the books, I feel like Alcatraz's arc is failing until he succeeds, which is a fairly heroic thing. It's how all stories work. I just feel like Alcatraz also sometimes succeeds in the wrong way, kind of like how his Talent will do everything he wants it to until it doesn't. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gak Posted October 22, 2020 Report Share Posted October 22, 2020 i would also point out that alcatraz's thing is that, yes he has great power and whatnot, but he is still just a person, not a hero, just a kid in the wrong/right place at the wrong/right time, or at least, that is how i see it 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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