Summary
Time and again, the characters ofMy Hero Academiaheld their hands out as ameans of peaceand wanting to save and rescue. Reaching out your hand is deeply rooted in heroism and signifies your ability as a hero.
It is easy to save others; however, holding out your hand and saving others from the darkness within them takes a Hero. Reaching out your hand is more than just saving someone from danger; it also symbolizes the connection and bond you create when you do so. So, what does it mean inMHA?
What is the Significance of Reaching Out Your Hand?
Whether It’s Physical or Emotional, it’s Rooted in Heroism
The act of reaching out one’s hand has been seen countless times throughout the seriesand has several meanings behind it.My Hero Academiais a series filled with heroism, discrimination, and the prospect of fighting and never giving up your dreams.
One of the first instances we see was during theHideout Raid arc, where the League of Villains kidnaped Bakugo Katsuki in an attempt to recruit him into the League. During this time, the Pro Heroes could locate Bakugo but could not rescue him due tothe Nomuand the threat All For One posed. However, thanks to Midoriya Izuku’s strategic thinking, the makeshift group of UA high schoolers was able to rescue Bakugo from the fray.
At that time,it was Kirishimawho held out his hand for Bakugo to take. This symbolized a willingness of wanting to be saved and trust in the group and the friendship Bakugo had made along the way. In this instance, Kirishima reaching out his hand is also a way in whichBakugo Katsuki changes as a character.Previously, Bakugo acted as a lone wolf, believing everyone was beneath him. However, the ability to take another’s hand in a time of need also symbolizes his ability to change as a character.
To further broach the topic, this is not the first time Bakugo has had someone reach out their hand. Previously, when Bakugo and Midoriya were younger, Bakugo fell into a river to which Midoriya held out a helpful hand. In this instance, it symbolized innocence and wanting to help a friend in need. Thus, Bakugo’s unwillingness to accept help would lead him and Midoriya to have a rocky relationship.
As mentioned above, the series concerns heroism and how it affects those around it. It also plays a vital role in determining how heroic these heroes are, which adds to the significance of reaching out your hand. Becoming a Hero means you are willing to risk your life for others, to save and rescue them from harm, whether from villains or the characters themselves.
Are Characters Able to Grow From It?
To Accept Help From Others is A Way to Help Yourself
My Hero Academiatells the tale that everyone can be saved as long as someone is willing to go the extra mile to save them. The series is about saving innocent civilians from disasters and villains and the willingness to save the villains from themselves and seek redemption. We’ve also seen this represented inShigaraki Tomura.
While it was believed that Shigaraki was truly evil and wanted to destroy the world that didn’t save him, the truth was that All For One was manipulating Shigaraki and his family unbeknownst to them. All For One wanted to create a perfect vessel for himself, thus nurturing Shigaraki’s villainous character.
However, beneath all the destruction and hate for the Hero society, Shigaraki wanted to be saved. During the Final War, Midoriya uncovered that as a young child, Shigaraki wished to be saved from the horrors he faced. However, no one reached out their hand tosave him from his circumstances. Although Midoriya has tried to save Shigaraki, he ultimately chose to die as a villain for those in the League of Villains who followed him on this path.
In the aftermath of the Final War, we see another child treated similarly to Shigaraki, indicating that history can and will repeat itself. If the granny had not been the person to reach out her hand to provide the warmth and care of another person empathizing with him, he likely would have turned out like Shigaraki. However, the granny, reaching out her hand, has saved him from his past neglect and a future of possible destruction.
The significance of reaching out your hand is more than just helping a friend or your partner up. Reaching out your hand signifies that you want to save someone, whether physical or emotional. Throughout the series, there are several instances where characters have felt lost and without cause; an example of this would beAoyama Yuga revealing that he is the UA traitor.
Accepting the hand that has been given also indicates growth in character, a willingness to accept one’s own truth and grow from that. It also suggests that although you may feel lost, someone will look out for you, wanting to carry your burden and get you through a tough time. Overall, reaching out your hand is rooted in Heroism; it’s not only saving others from peril but also from the darkness within them.
My Hero Academia
Cast
In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the “One-For-All” quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.
