Alex Everett Professor Rondolone English 103-134 24 April 2024 Hellfire Hotchkiss: A Discoverable Hero There is no other greater reason that readers love stories so much than the characters they attach themselves to. They see parts of themselves in these characters and connect with them. They root for them when they are down, and celebrate when the characters win. Usually, they can be defined as a hero and a villain. Yet, it is not always so easy in all cases. In Mark Twain’s “Hellfire Hotchkiss”, the titular character is an outlier in this general rule. She demonstrates both characteristics a hero and a villain would have; she saves people from danger but often gets into fights for selfish purposes. After all, danger is what gave her purpose…show more content… For instance, when she saw Oscar in the water, many of the townsfolk sang her praises when she showed up to save him. Upon seeing Hellfire run in, Sarah shows her relief “[Oscar’s] saved, if anybody can save him” (Twain 119). People see her as strong and extremely capable, particularly highlighting her physicality and gracefulness. Her talent makes her stand out from the rest of the townsfolk, elevating her to a higher status in the community. She is clearly talented throughout the town with her daring feats and abilities. Hellfire shows off her heroism throughout many different parts of the short story. Her eagerness to assist people who are in danger, her willingness to sacrifice what she loves and knows, and her ability to do the things everyone cannot, showcase her as a hero. No matter what happens, she heads straight into the fight all the while helping those who cannot help themselves. Her character is more complex than other heroes as she must derive some change within herself. It becomes her responsibility to realize that the only reason she gets into danger is to be doing it for the sake of those who may find themselves in the
