Bigger Than Yourself is a forum meant to inspire people to think more about others than themselves. In both literary fictions as well as reality, it can be observed that in order to survive and thrive, many people tend to belittle and break others down to build their own self-esteem. More often than not, this barbaric belief leads to the downfall of antagonists in fiction. On this website, you will find my investigation of fear-mongering rulers in fictional works and the characteristics of which they possess that allows them to lead so effectively. You will also find my analysis of various compositions of narratives that fall under the Romantic Thriller subgenre. In my last major project, you will find a merge between these two subject matters as I write a Romantic Thriller narrative centered around a fear-mongering leader. Overall, the mission statement of Bigger Than Yourself, and to a greater extent my life, is as follows: “To live a life encompassed by servant leadership dedicated to my family, faith, and country.”

     My concern in making this world better for everyone has helped me to recognize that antiheros may not truly be evil, which is why I chose to analyze antagonists in literature and films, searching for the root to their evils and trying to figure out if they are decent beings. Analyzing villains in fictional works led me to investigating why some of these antagonists are able to gain a following and rule over others in such successful manners. Besides the use of imaginary superpowers, fictional characters are able to gain and maintain a following by employing positive leadership attributes. However, there are many ethical and upright leaders in literature and films, such as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. This series opened up the gates for me into my second major project in which I will discuss Romantic Thrillers and its conventions. In my final project I will tie in my first two projects and develop my own narrative that incorporates a character that can be categorized as a fear-mongering ruler and is written in the Romantic Thriller subgenre.  

     Bigger Than Yourself is an outlet in which I encourage people to use their imagination to develop an idea or a project to help others and the subsequent development of an action plan to achieve this task. If you feel inspired and motivated, then do it. Carry out your plan and aid in improving our world. Rather than glorifying the actions conveyed by Count Dracula from Dracula, Johnny Lawrence from The Karate Kid, or Regina George from Mean Girls, this website encourages others to stray away from the survival of the fittest stance and towards a position supporting a symbiotic relationship defined by mutualism and benefiting one another. I’ve discovered innovative means to support and assist others and am interested in diving into literature and analyzing characters who chose to live life ignorant to humanity, egocentric and vain.

     I have the complete opposite mindset of the characters listed above; I believe that helping others is associated with one flourishing in their own life. To live an extraordinary life, I believe we need to leave a positive legacy and beneficially affect as many people as possible. Due to my opposing mentality, on this media page, Bigger Than Yourself, you will find my aims to try to understand these leaders that some may refer to as bullies. (Word Count: 565)