The Observer, November 17, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 11
Tragic heros speak to the people
Arch of Atlas
From the stable of wealthy, beautiful actors that stump for the one campaign, we have a remarkable flexibility of choice. Who of these will be the spokesman for the poor and sick of the Third World?
There are those who argue that Angelina Jolie is the obvious choice. She flashes her smile, adopts African babies, and earnestly tells Larry King that we can end poverty this generation, we have that power! She is a Super Hero: the one we love, respect, and want to emulate.
But I prefer the Tragic Hero. My nomination is Noah Wyle, who plays golden general internist Dr. John Carter on the television show ER. I know this will be considered perhaps an odd choice, as his only apparent qualification, aside from star power and being handsome, is not that he's a doctor, but that he plays one on television.
But think of it: over 10 years, ER documented Carter's journey from nervous medical student to brilliant physician. We saw Carter/Wyle addicted to painkillers, stabbed by psychotic patients, in and out of love, and treating AIDS in Africa.
In his personal life, he struggled, and often failed, and in so doing, captivated us. Over 10 years, Carter/Wyle slipped into our collective conscience as a Tragic Hero. Carter found his purpose in life in healing us, his patients. We depended on him for healing and understanding. He depended on us to save him from himself.
We want Jolie's real-life and celluloid Super Hero self. We want her strong and wily Lara Croft, or the seductive Mrs. Smith that Brad Pitt found so irresistible. But her pouty perfection forever separates her from us. A woman of the people, Angelina Jolie is not.
As a Tragic Hero, Carter understands what it is like to be without health care, and is the one who will comfort us in our weakness. Whether or not Wyle understands what it's like to work in a hospital, or to sit at the bedside of an ill patient is not important. What is important is his market-share of influence over the TV-viewing public.
We will listen to radio interviews with Wyle, watch his television appearances, and read articles that quote him talking about AIDS and Africa. In those brief moments, perhaps we will see him not as the famous, wealthy actor that he is, but will see him as Dr. Carter, a man who holds our life in his hands.
We will be moved, because John Carter is human, and flawed.
Just like us.
Liu is a MD/PhD student in health policy.
