The role of oddities in personal identity.

Key Takeaways

• Whimsy shapes personal identity and self-esteem and defines a character's life trajectory and sense of belonging.
• How society perceives oddities determines whether an individual is classified as a hero or a villain.
• Living in a society of superpowers means enormous social pressure and expectations for those with ingenious technology.

In the world My Hero AcademiaEccentricity is a superhuman ability that an individual is born with. These abilities often appear as early as age 4 and are known to affect more than 80% of the population. Because these abilities emerge when individuals are in the early stages of development, it is not uncommon for them to build their personality around their traits and make certain important decisions to accommodate their traits.

Whimsy is very important in this world, and being born without it would be destructive. Fans see how upset Izuku Midoriya and his mother were when the doctor told them that Midoriya would grow up without him. The impact of quirky behavior on individuals is profound in that it defines their self-perception, social interactions, and career paths. Without a doubt, Midoriya knew that no matter how much he dreamed, he could not and would never become a hero. The presence or absence of idiosyncrasies dictates the trajectory of a character's life, often creating expectations that determine how they fit into society.

Idiosyncrasy and personal identity

self-awareness

Personal identity is how a person defines and understands themselves. This includes aspects such as your personality, values, beliefs, and role you play in life. This is a way to make someone see themselves as unique and feel like an individual separate from others. character of My Hero Academia They often link their self-esteem to their shortcomings. Midoriya, for example, was born with signs that he might not be quirky. Midoriya felt inadequate and worthless because he was born without a quirk and was one of the few who could not become a hero.

Midoriya meeting All Might and taking over One For All changed his perspective, giving him a sense of purpose and belonging. Midoriya, who was born with a quirk, now sees himself as someone who can become a hero, which increases his self-esteem.

Yuga Aoyama was also born with a gift. This incident led him and his parents to look for unconventional ways to acquire quirks. For example, he contacted All For One, the greatest villain in the world, and gave him his belly button, but at a cost. Born without quirkiness in a world where most people were born with quirkiness, his parents feared the discrimination he would face through no fault of their own. Personally, Yuga, like Midoriya, struggles to fit in and sees himself as less valuable and worthless. Even with his ingenuity, he still suffers from anxiety because he knows the time he has gone through and the price he pays for his ingenuity.

self-acceptance

What is unusual is what individuals have the least control over. Different people exhibit different characteristics, and some are stronger, stronger, and more versatile than others. This causes individuals to view themselves less because they look cooler or do not display stronger characteristics. Eijiro Kirishima had trouble accepting his quirk because he felt it was inferior to other quirks, such as Todoroki's half-hot, half-cold or Bakugo's explosive quirk. Over time, Kirishima learns to accept his enhanced abilities and learns that heroism is more than flashy powers. He would also like to thank his teacher, Shota Aizawa. He learns that it is really about personal resilience and spirit. Knowing this, he began to accept himself and feel a sense of belonging among his peers.

Peculiarities and social roles

How Quirk Holders Are Fit for You

Some people use their traits for good, while others use them for bad. This is why there are villains and heroes in this world. Society expects individuals who use their quirks for good to protect their cities and the world from villains and not oppress the quirky few.

Heroes are known for using their quirks to protect society, but those who misuse or reject societal norms, such as Tomura Shigaraki, League of Villians, Dabi, etc., are classified as villains. The difference between a hero and a villain often depends not only on the idiosyncrasies themselves, but also on how society perceives and reacts to the individual. For example, society perceives Stein as a villain. Stein is no hero either, but his role may be considered heroic by some and villainous by others. Stain is not innocent, has ulterior motives to become a hero, and takes it upon himself to destroy the hero within him for fame and money. A true hero should not be concerned with the benefits of the role, but only with saving lives and seeking justice.

According to Stain, only All Might can be considered a true hero, the others exist for selfish reasons. Regardless of Stain's motivations and beliefs, society views him as a villain. Because he kills people.

All Might is a perfect example of what society expects from quirkless bearers who are essentially heroes. Because All Might served and protected Japan so well, he was revered as a symbol of peace and considered Japan's greatest hero. Come rain, come sunshine. As long as villains threaten citizens or citizens are in danger, All Might will show up. Even after suffering a serious injury, he did not want to step down due to social expectations.

Discrimination and Prejudice

In a world like this, discrimination and prejudice are inevitable. Enji showed more prejudice towards Todoroki than other children because his unique traits were equally distributed. His prejudice led his eldest son Todoroki to the dark side, and Toya became Dabi, a villain painfully familiar to most fans.

People born with subversive oddities or considered “monsters” by societal standards. For example, Spinner from League of Villains fits society's criteria for a villain thanks to his mutant trait, Gecko. Spinners have lizard-like features and face discrimination. Spinner and others like him have been pushed to the margins by society, facing prejudice or rejection. This reinforces a rigid social structure in which eccentric traits serve as key determinants of an individual's place in the world, either empowering them to stand out or limiting their potential roles.

Society's pressures and expectations

What to expect from a Quirk holder

With great power comes great responsibility, and even though they did not seek natural power, they bear the responsibility of having that power. Characters with powerful traits often face tremendous social pressure to be heroes and live up to expectations. All Might's quirk, One For All, positions him as a symbol of peace, placing the weight of society's safety on his shoulders.

Despite having a gaping hole in his chest, All Might did not want to retire as a hero because society expected protection from him, and because most people feared him, he essentially kept the villain in his place. Eventually he was forced to retire as he lost all of his One For All spark, relegating him to a volatile individual and a shadow of his former muscular self.

Society is also the reason why villains appear. Individuals have minimal control over their quirks. But there are some quirks that seem good and some that seem bad. Bakugo's explosive whimsy is seen as a quirky quirk in society, and people assume he has a tendency to become a villain. Unlike Bakugo, who faithfully followed the path of a hero, there are also characters who are evaluated this way. The other characters, not so much. Characters like Spinner, Dabi, Twice, and Himiko Toga became villains as a reaction to how their quirkiness alienated them from societal norms.

at last

Living in a superpower society places a lot of pressure, expectations, and self-acceptance on individuals. Being unique in this world means that individuals must be either heroes or villains, not something in between. Only a volatile individual can say what they want, but not necessarily a hero. Ingenuity is more than just a superhuman ability that these individuals are born with. It determines their fate, shapes their interactions with others, and most importantly, shapes how individuals perceive themselves.

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