What is your heroic ideal?

[Gothbogg the Ripper]

I think the fate of Gollum kind of exemplifies how I see herosm. Above all, the adulation of others is fickle. They cast you as hero and villain often in the same breath. So quick to laud you when times are good, so eager to doubt you when things go wrong.

Gollum destroyed the ring, by accident. He did something heroic purely by fluke. And I feel that's what heroism is, a fluke. People may read selflessness into actions that were done without any thought or consideration beyond self-preservation.

Heroes and madmen are often one and the same in my opinion.