Heroic Suicide: Difference between revisions

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Suicide is generally considered a bad thing. Even when the person committing it [[Driven to Suicide|feels he has no other choice]], it's still far from heroic. In contrast, [[Heroic Sacrifice~~|Heroic Sacrifices~~]] are almost always regarded as noble, and those who perform them are held in high regard. Despite the similarities, these two things rarely overlap.

Suicide is generally considered a bad thing. Even when the person committing it [[Driven to Suicide|feels he has no other choice]], it's still far from heroic. In contrast, [[Heroic Sacrifice]]s are almost always regarded as noble, and those who perform them are held in high regard. Despite the similarities, these two things rarely overlap.

But sometimes they do.

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This trope is about situations where suicide becomes heroic. Say a character discovers that he is a [[Person of Mass Destruction]], a crucial part of an [[Evil Plan]], or the [[Big Bad]]'s [[Soul Jar]]. In such situations killing oneself may be the only way to save the day.

This is a specific sub-trope of [[Heroic Sacrifice]]. The difference is that in most [[Heroic Sacrifice~~|Heroic Sacrifices~~]] dying is merely an unfortunate by-product of a heroic act. In a Heroic Suicide, '''dying is the goal'''. Or, to put it another way, a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] engages in lethal activity even though it will get him killed. '''A Heroic Suicide engages in lethal activity BECAUSE it will get him killed.'''

This is a specific sub-trope of [[Heroic Sacrifice]]. The difference is that in most [[Heroic Sacrifice]]s dying is merely an unfortunate by-product of a heroic act. In a Heroic Suicide, '''dying is the goal'''. Or, to put it another way, a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] engages in lethal activity even though it will get him killed. '''A Heroic Suicide engages in lethal activity BECAUSE it will get him killed.'''

The clearest examples are when a character personally ''will become'' the threat that endangers others, and they have to kill themselves to prevent it. Any such situation ''definitely'' counts as a Heroic Suicide. Otherwise, it ''might'' count, but be careful.