We are taught to differentiate between heroes and villains from a very young age. We watch heroes and villains battle each other as enemies for opposite motives. The villains are often crazy masterminds trying to take over people whereas the hero fights for the freedom and ease of people without any personal benefit. Anytime we have to distinguish between a hero and a villain we can look at his actions and make a judgment. There are some obvious heroes in history like Terry Fox and obvious villains like Hitler. However not all people in history are that easy to classify as hero or villain. A 19th century Canadian Louis Riel has left people scratching their head to this day. The controversial actions of Louis Riel have left us with the question …show more content…
that was Louis Riel a hero or a villain. The question is still as mysterious as it was on 4 March 1870 the day he was prosecuted. Today’s world defines a hero as somebody who is courageous, brave, has the ability to put his life in danger for the sake of others and acts on what is best for his people not what is best for him. Many of these qualities are present in the actions and life of Louis Riel. He gave up his life when it came to fighting for the rights of his people. He fought against the odds even when he clearly had a very little chance at succeeding. Ones motives are also a big deciding factor in whether they could be classified as a hero or not. Louis Riel’s motives were not selfish. He wanted the culture and values of the Metis people to stay intact for the future generations to cherish. This would not have been possible if the government had allowed the land that belonged to the Metis people to be sold. The culture and value system of the Metis people made a huge impact on their lives and for that to be lost at the hands of the government would serve as a great loss to them and their children. So in order for their voices to be heard they needed a representative and someone that would be able to lead them. They found their voice and leader in Louis Riel. The mere fact that Louis Riel was somebody that was fighting for a good cause makes him a hero. He knows that he will need to take matters in his own hands, if his and the Metis peoples voice is not heard. By causing those rebellions he was trying to show the government, which was not paying attention to the needs of the Metis, that they too also have a voice that should be heard, recognized and considered. He put his own life at stake for this cause. This shows that he genuinely wants the benefit for the Metis people. His dedication also shows us that he truly was a hero. He tried again and again to help his people even when the government was being insensitive to their pleas for justice. Another thing to be noted is that he uses the authority and power he has for good causes. There is no benefit in this for him but rather he is putting his life in grave danger for the betterment of his people. In the beginning he tried to negotiate with the government by proposing the List of Rights for the Metis but when he saw that the government was paying little attention to him, he decided to take more drastic measures in order to achieve his goals. Louis Riel also had a massive impact on the formation of the province of Manitoba. In 1870 when the government finally considered the List of Metis Rights that was created by Louis Riel and transformed it into the Manitoba Act, Canada found itself with a fifth province. Louis Riel helped the province by establishing a provincial government. The government of Canada gave their guarantee that there would be schools that taught in English and French. This act also stated that there would be Protestant schools along with the Roman Catholic schools. Louis Riel also ensured that the people of Manitoba would have a proper functional government and they would also receive their land and property rights. Although the living conditions were not perfect and only slightly resembled how they were before the Canadian government, still Louis Riel’s actions had made a great difference to their lives. Despite the fact that whatever Louis Riel did was out of good nature it was still there were things that he should not have done.
One such event is the execution of Thomas Scott. Thomas Scott was born in Ireland in 1842. Later he immigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1863. He was then employed by the Canadian government as a surveyor. At the end of 1869 Thomas Scott along with John Christian Schultz, Charles Mair and approximately fifty others were arrested by Louis Riel whiles they were attacking the Fort. When in jail Scott proved to be a very difficult prisoner. He made racist comments, acted abusively and did not recognize the authority that Louis Riel possessed. As well as he encouraged people to not vote for Louis Riel. Eventually at the beginning of 1870, Scott had managed to escape for a month and during this time he planned on capturing Louis Riel. Then in February of 1870 Thomas Scott along with forty - seven others were held as prisoners. Scott openly showed his contempt for the Metis people. He did not obey the commands that were given to him but furthermore he provoked his guards by insulting and hitting them. At this point many of the Metis wanted Scott to be punished for his doings. Scott was taken to court and trailed for insubordination. He was convicted as guilty and was executed by a firing squad. Louis Riel said in his defense to Donald Smith, "We must make Canada respect us." This action should not have taken place because considering Riel's motives this is …show more content…
still not acceptable because he did not have any authority to kill a man because he was being racist and had insulted the guards. This execution also reinforced the tensions between the English and French. Even if the execution was to be justified, Thomas Scott was not killed in a humane manner. There was a bullet shot onto his shoulder and one on to his upper chest. The third bullet went through his nose and came out of his nose. He was placed in a coffin alive and had to suffer a slow death. "For God's sake take me out of here or kill me", he cried whiles he was in the coffin. His request was not fulfilled and was left to and the mercy of torture. Louis should have also not encouraged his followers to go against the government.
The government did also have their rights. Also if Luis Riel had wanted the situation could have been handled more strategically so that people would not be getting arrested and killed. Louis Riel and his followers did not understand that they were living under a government and that they should oblige to their rules and express their disagreement using more peaceful routes. Also rebelling against the government would not have left a good impression of him and the Metis people, whom he was representing. The government would not want consider the opinion of people that rebelled against them. Also in that time it would be an extreme offense to be challenging the government. This action would essentially be disobeying the law. By rebelling he would not be setting a good example to the people that considered him a hero and looked up to him for
guidance. Alongside with that the invasion of the store was also something that he could have avoided and it makes him appear more evil than heroic. John Schultz was a doctor that had a permit from the government to sell to the newcomers. He among several others had his eyes on the land that was a part of Manitoba. Louis Riel and the Metis people did not want for their land to be sold. In addition to this reason Riel also did not appreciate the fact that Schultz was selling liquor to the Metis people. He believed that this was a violation to their rights and their land. We can also see that Louis Riel may have some evil aspects to his nature because he left and heroes do not leave at the first sight of danger to them. When the government was finding Louis Riel he ran off to the United States so that he could get away from Canada and not have to deal with the consequences of the actions that he took. This shows that he was a coward and did not have it in him to be able to face the reality and get the punishment he deserved or even give an explanation on why he executed Thomas Scott. But it is evident that Louis Riel still remembered his people even when he ran away. Whiles he was in America he connected with his religion. He had started to believe that he was someone special that was sent from God to guide and help his people. This realization encouraged him to go back and assist his people once again. Although it was wrong of Louis Riel to go against the government and rebel, the government had left him with no choice. Luis had tried to make his voice heard by just using words when he came up with the List of Rights for Metis people but the government did not pay any attention to him and he needed to have his voice heard so in result he had to take these harsh steps. The invasion of the store could also be seen as something that Louis Riel should not have done. When the government allowed for the store to build there, they had no right to do so because it was their land. Louis Riel just wanted to protect it from being exploited. If the Metis people did not want to have a store that sold liquor on their lands and they had every right to express that concern. He felt as if the government was tricking his people into selling their lands by intoxicating them. Even though Louis Riel left his people he came back immediately when he realized that his people needed him and he should go to help them because he believed that god had created him for this purpose. Louis Riel has shown his heroism by standing up for his people even when they were a minority and the government did not pay close attention to them. He did take the actions that were necessary so that he could attempt to preserve the land and culture of the Metis people. Louis Riel's had a good cause and did not contain any selfish motives such as power or money. He did attempt on negotiating with the government but had to take more drastic measures so that his voice could be heard. He also helped in making Manitoba and ensuring that the Metis people would have their rights fulfilled and their needs meet. Louis Riel also took part in actions that would seem evil at first glance but they were actually conducted for betterment. Many people would agree that Louis Riel is a villain because he had Thomas Scott executed but he had good reason to perform those actions. Thomas Scott was being rude and insulting the Metis people. He was also making threats about killing Louis Riel. He had stepped into the Metis land and did not know how to respect them. He wanted to take away something that he had no rights to and to him and his people nothing more mattered then their culture and their values. Although it was wrong of Louis Riel to go against the government and rebel, the government had left him with no choice. Louis Riel had tried to make his voice heard by just using words when he came up with the List of Rights for Metis people but the government did not consider him to be important and he needed to have his voice heard so in result he had to take these severe steps. The invasion of the store could also be seen as something that Louis Riel should not have done. When the government allowed for the store to build there, they had no right to do so because it was their land. Louis Riel just wanted to protect it from being exploited. If the Metis people did not want to have a store that sold liquor on their lands and they had every right to express that desire.
In 1869, Red River and the North West were to be transferred from the Hudson’s Bay Company to Canadian jurisdiction, so survey crews were sent to Red River. These crews were disrupted by a group of Métis including Riel, who then organized themselves as the “Métis National Committee” with Riel as secretary. This committee formed a provisional government in December 1869 and Louis Riel became its president. This government established a Bill of Rights for the Métis people. They were challenged by a group of English settlers known a...
If you think Louis Riel was a Hero. You need to assess his accomplishments and what they did for the Metis history. In this life time Riel was named the Secretary for the National Committee of the Red River Metis and people came to him for advice instead of the president. Riel was well aware of about McDougall's approach to the boundary at Pembina. On November 2nd, Riel and 120-armed Metis marched through the open gate at Fort Garry and took power of the ambulant storage of food and the fortress itself. Riel also claimed other fortresses for the Metis and eventually the president of the National Committee of the Red River Metis resigned and gave the position of president to Louis Riel. These are some of the many reasons that society today sees Louis Riel as a hero in Canadian history and they admire him. Although as you read you will see the reasons that society thinks of this man as an embarrassment in our history.
However, despite all these flaws, he is known to be one of Canada’s national heroes, as he left a substantial impact on Canadian history as a dominant individual within civilization. Riel was highly looked upon by the Aboriginal peoples, notably the Métis, on account for fighting for their civil liberties in which were being stripped from them systematically by the government. While stationed in the Red River settlement, he was welcomed by the invasion of discrimination brought by Ontario Anglophone settlers; racial tensions escalated. He strived to protect the Métis habitat, customs and values in the Northwest as they were steadily l... ... middle of paper ... ...
Is Louis Riel a hero or a traitor? Well, some individuals say that he was a hero, and others say that he was a traitor. Individually, I believe that Louis Riel was a hero because he was the forefather of Manitoba, which is a province of Canada. The fact that he was a persuasive politician and spiritual leader made him a hero as well. Lastly, he stood up for Native rights.
Robert Ross’ whole life he grew up in a household where they did what was expected of them, rather than what was right. The type of people that Findley place in Robert’s life is what molds him into the type of character he becomes. Timothy Findley manipulates what a hero is supposed to be, by making Robert Ross a distorted kind of hero. Robert Ross exemplifies anti-heroism throughout the text because of his need to be a savior but inability to do so, his morals and his connection with animals.
The controversy surrounding the trial and execution of Louis Riel has been debated throughout Canadian history with the French-speaking Canadians firmly planted against the English. Today, the government has recognized Riel as the legitimate leader of the Métis people. He is now regarded as a hero for representing the Métis.
Andrew Carnegie, an inventor, philosopher, and entrepreneur, helped create the age of industrialization; also known as the Gilded Age. With his steel, he turned the U.S from an agricultural and commercial nation to an industrial nation. Being one of the forward-thinking men of his time, he helped cities expand bringing urbanization. Although many people consider him a hero, he is considered an antagonist because of his atrocious working conditions coupled with the long hour and the wages. So was he a hero? A hero is generally defined as someone who is admired or idealized usually for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. On the other hand, an anti-hero is someone who lacks the traits of a traditional hero but still has the greater good of the people in mind. Though Carnegie did the best he could for the people of the future, I cannot say the same for the people of his time. Andrew Carnegie is in between a hero and a villain; he is an anti-hero.
What makes a hero or a villain? A hero is defined as a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. By this definition, there existed countless heroes in America during the 1800’s in relation to slavery. There were many abolitionists, particularly from the North, that exhibited courageous attitudes. It was these heroes that taught the southerners, who believed their lives could only prevail if slavery survived and expanded westward, what they knew was morally right (3, 92).
During the late 1860s the Red River Settlement was rapidly changing and along with these changes came multiple causes and conflicts that would subsequently to a resistance called the Red River Rebellion. Many profound changes occurred in the Red River Settlement that had caused problems and hostility among the inhabitants to emerge such as:the arrival of Canadians to the settlement, the economic problems and the decline of the Hudson Bay Company. However, the Red River Rebellion was sparked by the Hudson Bay Company selling Rupert’s Land to the new Dominion of Canada without consulting with the inhabitants nor paying any regards to their interests.The colonists of the Red River Settlement, many of whom were Metis, feared for their culture and land rights under the dominion’s control. In order to ascertain that their rights would be protected, the Metis set up a provisional government under the leadership of Louis Riel to negotiate an agreement with the new Dominion of Canada that the Red River Settlement and the lands surrounding it, could enter Confederation as the province of Manitoba under their own terms.
Louis Riel played a big role in Canada and was fighting for the rights of Metis. He was captured and executed by Canadian authorities in November 16, 1885 in Regina. Louis Riel did not receive a fair trial due that he was fighting for the rights of the Metis and people. It was inappropriate to accuse Riel as a traitor. He tried to defend the traditional right of Metis and equal people and dedicated his life to help others like Metis, Native Indians and Western settlers. He gained a lot of respect and was a good leader. Riel was a person who stepped up and was not afraid to tell the government what they needed. He tried to succeed through peaceful methods and bring change into the Canadian government. However, he did not want to take over Canada or start a revolution against Quebec. The Canadian government did not see this and went against him and charged him as a traitor. At this point, English speaking men were against Riel’s beliefs. When Louis Riel tried to get Metis rights and make them equal but the English people did not want to this change and thought that this was obligating treason. Treason expresses someone that is overthrowing the government in power. Many thoughts came up upon the government whether to hang Louis Riel or not. Quebec was concerned that if Riel would be hanged, they would upset the Conservative Party and if they kept him alive, Ontario would be enraged. Many members of the Canadian government believed that Riel was an insane and not responsible but he did not refuse to give up. His plan was equal everyone out and to devise of Canada with many races, such as Catholic and Protestant. Many people respected him and were confident in him. Louis Riel was not a traitor in Canada and did not receive a fair tria...
...attles. It eventually ended when Louis Riel surrendered on May 15 1885, after the defeat at Batoche. Riel had written a letter to General Frederick Middleton (British general), saying that he didn’t like war and he’d surrender himself only if the Métis were freed. After the rebellion ended, Riel became a prisoner of the Canadian government and was taken to trial for treason in Regina. He was eventually convicted and executed as a traitor. And so lived and died the heroic, peaceful founder of the Province of Manitoba, and defender of the rights of the Métis.
When asking people about what characteristics they think of when they think of a hero the most common answers would be doing good deeds and not allowing evil to flourish. This is what we have been made to believe. One of the first images that come to mind when the word hero is mentioned is a superhero. An image of Batman or Superman is likely, one who is good natured and conquers evil as it appears. Just doing good deeds or not committing evil sins is not enough. First you would have to distinguish the difference between an evil and a good action. The line between good and evil is so thin that specific attributes and certain actions are constantly being exchanged back and forth. We cannot decide as a society what is good and what is evil. A modern day example would be when the United States made the decision to bomb Japan during World War II. For Americans celebration ensued as it was thought to be a decisive moment of victory. Those who were involved in t...
The trial of Louis Riel is one of the most debatable controversial topics in Canadian history, and to this day, 130 years after his death, there is still a debate on whether this man was a hero or a villain. Louis Riel is innocent. He is innocent because he was a man with a sense of self worth for himself and for his metis people, he was a man of pride, who could stand up for his people even after being betrayed, cheated and lied to by his own government multiple times.
For the interference and defiance of the Provisional Government, Thomas Scott was sentenced to death on 4 March 1870. Guilty of insulting Riel, defying authority and fighting with his guards, Scott was executed by firing squad despite the fact that the crimes were not considered a capital offence. Riel’s justification was that he found it necessary in order to demonstrate to the Canadians and his people that he must be taken seriously, but instead,
For a time, the main characters in a story, poem, or narrative were easily classified as either being a hero or a villain. A hero would be easy to identify by the traits he'd possess, such as bravery, honesty, selflessness, trustworthiness, courage, leadership, and more. The villain would be easy to identify as well, possessing traits such as maliciousness, deceitfulness, immorality, dark, wishing harm upon others, and more. But what if the character lacked the natural heroic qualities but wasn't a villain either? What if the person displayed personality flaws that would traditionally be associated with a villain, but has heroic intentions? These questions were finally answered with the emergence of the anti-hero in literature.