Why every boy wants to be James Bond


After I saw Casino Royale recently I began to think about heroes and why I thought James Bond was such a cool character. Why has the character of James Bond endeared himself to generations of men and women? I think it is a combination of things. To me, James Bond is the epitome of the alpha male without the rough edges. He personified what “cool” really was. I know he is a fictional character and it is a little morbid to be enamored with a man who is basically an alcoholic who borders on the edge of being a sociopath.
While I would not encourage anyone to become a social deviant, I believe that James Bond as a character is more than his actions. The character has evolved to an almost secular level. What positive qualities does the character exude? The most desirable quality, for men and women, is his supreme confidence. When Ian Flemming originally wrote Casino Royale he created a character that was hindered by his own hubris and it cost him in regards to his first mission as a “00”. His license to kill blinded him to the rationale for killing. But he was so confident in his ability to get the job done he neglected protocol and dispatched of his enemies.
His confidence also found itself playing a large part in his romantic conquests. What man doesn’t want the confidence to pick up the beautiful woman he sees in a crowded area? Most men consider themselves when they are able to proposition a woman into sex. To James Bond, it isn’t a matter of luck but a matter of time. James Bond ALWAYS gets the girl. In reality, things aren’t nearly redundant. While his blatant sexist behavior never allows him to truly connect to a woman on an emotional level, it works for the character because he is not supposed to have emotional ties to any person. Emotions are a liability to MI6. Anyone who has seen Casino Royale knows exactly what I am talking about.
I believe the next point that makes the character so popular is his dedication to his job. Most people have a dispassionate relationship with their career. Most of the time, it has evolved into a monotonous routine. The character of James Bond has a fierce loyalty to his job. His job is more than an occupation, it is his life’s ambition and only solace from the chaos surrounding him. Moreover, it is a daily affirmation that he is doing the right thing.
I guess I can give my own rationale for my admiration of the character. The character exudes and amplifies every quality I think a man should have. The confidence to never question your actions or doubt the success of them, the inner strength to never have fear of the unknown, the resourcefulness to negotiate through any obstacle, and always getting the object of affection are all admirable qualities. I, like most men, fall short in several of these qualities. I am far from perfect, but the desire to be a better man still lingers. I wish I oozed “cool” or “confidence”. Instead, I perspire self-deprecation and awkwardness.
Some may read this and say that it is bullshit and that the character of James Bond is flawed, and he is. That imperfection makes him more human and even more enjoyable because the mistakes that he does make allows the reader/viewer to identify with him even more. The world of literature creates a vast universe with characters that most people could not even fathom. Every so often, a character emerges from out suspension of disbelief and enters into our subconscious. The character of James Bond represents the best qualities in men as well as some of the worse. The character endures because at its core exists a nobility and respectability that overpowers the egotism and nymphomania.