WHAT A CHARACTER

When we watch television or read novels, we come into indirect contact with many new, diverse characters who influence us in some way.  Whether they be the hero or the villain, these characters tend to make a lasting impressions on us from their choices and actions, but there is one particular fictional character who made a lasting impression on me, because he was different from the others.  From the 2012 film, Looper, Joe (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) may have been one of the most troubled heroes ever to be created by the stroke of a pen.  Beginning as a petty thug who gave up his best friend's life in order to save his own skin, Joe displayed more than a few flaws in his ethics, especially after taking into consideration his niche in society -- to assassinate targets from the future without question or prior knowledge.  In the end, though, his morals were changed once he discovered what really mattered in life, which was to help others instead of helping yourself.  When it all came down to it, he had to make one of the most shocking decisions of all in order to save the future world, and he did it by committing suicide.  He came to know that by taking himself out of the big picture, he could prevent all bad things to come.  By his actions alone did Joe indirectly characterize himself.  Starting off as a thug and moving on to become an epic hero with numerous flaws, Joe legitimately impressed me.  Where there are epic heroes with epic flaws like Joe, there is a given hope that all people can do great things in a split-second decision.  Joe will forever symbolize the truths of humanity in my eyes.  No matter how rude or evil a person can get, there will always be at least an inkling of humanity contained somewhere deep inside.  From a single movie character, I learned something profound.  "What a character."