History Main / IgnorantOfTheCall

Differs from MissedTheCall. Often overlaps with AccidentalHero and HumbleHero. Contrast HeelRealization, where someone is ignorant of the fact that they're a ''villain''.

A hero is Ignorant of the Call when he doesn't know that he is, in fact, TheHero. Everybody around him knows that the character is TheChosenOne, but he, himself, just can't see it. He fights the good fight and takes heroic actions... but it doesn't seem heroic to him, nor does he think he was destined to do them. He simply does what he must because it is in his nature to act in that manner. When dealing with this sort of protagonist, the phrase "[[ImNotAHeroIm I'm not a hero]]" (or a variant thereof) is often heard, along with ThinkNothingOfIt.

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in Disney's ''Disney/RobinHood''. Friar Tuck says that Rob is a hero, but Robin just laughs it off.
--> '''Robin: ''' "Did you hear that, Johnny? We've just been pardoned!"

* Marlin, of ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'' just thinks of himself as a father who is desperately trying to recover his missing son. To Dory, and Nemo, the sea turtles, Nigel the Pelican, the fish in Dr. Sherman's tank, and many, many others, Marlin is a badass {{determinator}} who repeatedly triumphed over unbelievable odds.

A hero is Ignorant of the Call when he doesn’t know that he is, in fact, TheHero. Everybody around him knows that the character is TheChosenOne, but he, himself, just can’t see it. He fights the good fight and takes heroic actions… but it doesn’t seem heroic to him, nor does he think he was destined to do them. He simply does what he must because it is in his nature to act in that manner. When dealing with this sort of protagonist, the phrase “[[ImNotAHeroIm I’m not a hero]]” (or a variant thereof) is often heard, along with ThinkNothingOfIt.

There are many types of heroes that have this as their character trait.

In addition, since the CallToAdventure is either not overt at all, or else parallels the Hero’s actions so well that the two only seem to connect by coincidence, it is entirely possible for the hero to never realize that their actions have some larger, plot-related importance.

[[AC:{{Anime}} & {{Manga}}]]
* Ash Ketchum of ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', at least in the movies. He likes to think of himself simply as a Pokémon Trainer, but time after time he stumbles into situations where it's clear only he could save the day. It's {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Anime/{{Pokemon 2000}}'', when the heroes realize that the phrase "The world shall turn to ash" didn't mean it would die, but the world would turn to ''Ash'' for help. His response? "Right now, I kinda wish that my mom named me Bob instead of Ash."

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[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* In ''Film/FirstKnight'', Launcelot doesn’t consider himself a hero. His attitude is “it needed to be done, I knew I could do it, so I did” and that is all.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

* Emelius Brown in ''Literature/BedknobAndBroomstick''. He's a con artist who seems to only be interested in making a fast buck, but ThePowerOfLove drove him to act otherwise. Even after, though, he’d never call himself a hero.

[[AC:{{Live Action TV}}]]

[[AC:{{Music}}]]

[[AC:{{Theatre}}]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

[[AC:RealLife]]

* Marlin, of ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'' just thinks of himself as a father who is desperately trying to recover his missing son. To Dory, and Nemo, the sea turtles, Nigel the Pelican, the fish in Dr. Sherman's tank, and many, many others, Marlin is a {{Badass}} {{determinator}} who repeatedly triumphed over unbelievable odds.

* Glenn Holland, from ''Film/MisterHollandsOpus'', believes he wasted his life because he became a music teacher instead of becoming famous as a composer. His current and former students, his friends, and his family (all of whose lives he shaped for the better) disagree.

* Franchise/{{Superman}}. Compared to other superheroes, he does what he does because it was the right thing to do, not because he has any obligation to do so. [[Franchise/TheFlash Barry Allen]] is much the same way to the point where he was helping fight crime as a forensic scientist long before he even received his powers.

''AllLovingHero:'' This type of hero cherishes everyone and everything. As such, helping others isn't anything they need to think about because to them, they may as well be helping a friend.\\\

''TheAtoner:'' This type of hero is trying to fight the good fight to make up for mistakes they made in the past. For them it isn't just their drive to help but also their feeling that it's the least they could do.\\\

''TheCape:'' This type of hero does good for the sake of doing good because that's what heroes do. They will always help because they want to be the hero and for them it's just part of the job.\\\
''HumbleHero:'' This type of hero doesn't see what he does as special or unique. They honestly think they're just regular people and that it's not a big deal to help others.\\\

''NiceGuy:'' This type of hero helps people because it's who they are. They're just plain nice people and help others because GoodFeelsGood.\\\

''TheParagon:'' This type of hero sees doing the right thing as a responsibility that everyone should honor. They believe it's within the ability of everyone to be a hero and teach others that doing the right thing should be natural.\\\

* Emelius Brown in ''Film/BedknobsAndBroomsticks''. He's a con artist who seems to only be interested in making a fast buck, but ThePowerOfLove drove him to act otherwise. Even after, though, he’d never call himself a hero.

* Emelius Brown in ''BedknobsAndBroomsticks''. He's a con artist who seems to only be interested in making a fast buck, but ThePowerOfLove drove him to act otherwise. Even after, though, he’d never call himself a hero.

There are many types of heroes that have this as there character trait.

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''AllLovingHero:'' This type of hero cherishes everyone and everything. As such, helping others isn't anything they need to think about because to them, they may as well be helping a friend.\\

''TheAtoner:'' This type of hero is trying to fight the good fight to make up for mistakes they made in the past. For them it isn't just their drive to help but also their feeling that it's the least they could do.\\

''TheCape:'' This type of hero does good for the sake of doing good because that's what heroes do. They will always help because they want to be the hero and for them it's just part of the job.\\
''HumbleHero:'' This type of hero doesn't see what he does as special or unique. They honestly think they're just regular people and that it's not a big deal to help others.\\

''NiceGuy:'' This type of hero helps people because it's who they are. They're just plain nice people and help others because GoodFeelsGood.\\

''TheParagon:'' This type of hero sees doing the right thing as a responsibility that everyone should honor. They believe it's within the ability of everyone to be a hero and teach others that doing the right thing should be natural.\\

''TheNiceGuy:'' This type of hero helps people because it's who they are. They're just plain nice people and help others because GoodFeelsGood.\\

''AllLovingHero:'' This type of hero cherishes everyone and everything. As such, helping others isn't anything they need to think about because to them, they may as well be helping a friend.
''TheAtoner:'' This type of hero is trying to fight the good fight to make up for mistakes they made in the past. For them it isn't just their drive to help but also their feeling that it's the least they could do.
''TheCape:'' This type of hero does good for the sake of doing good because that's what heroes do. They will always help because they want to be the hero and for them it's just part of the job.
''HumbleHero:'' This type of hero doesn't see what he does as special or unique. They honestly think they're just regular people and that it's not a big deal to help others.
''TheNiceGuy:'' This type of hero helps people because it's who they are. They're just plain nice people and help others because GoodFeelsGood.
''TheParagon:'' This type of hero sees doing the right thing as a responsibility that everyone should honor. They believe it's within the ability of everyone to be a hero and teach others that doing the right thing should be natural.

A hero is Ignorant of the Call when he doesn’t know that he is, in fact, TheHero. Everybody around him knows that the character is TheChosenOne, but he, himself, just can’t see it. He fights the good fight and takes heroic actions… but it doesn’t seem heroic to him, nor does he think he was destined to do them. He simply does what he must because it is in his nature to act in that manner. When dealing with this sort of protagonist, the phrase “[[ImNotAHeroIm I’m not a hero]]” (or a variant thereof) is often heard, along with ThinkNothingOfIt. Don’t you believe it for a second.

* Manga/{{Naruto}} starts off this way. By now, though, it's common knowledge.

* Anakin Skywalker might have been this in the {{Prequel}} trilogy of ''Franchise/StarWars''; it doesn't exactly make it clear.
* Neo thinks The Oracle [[ExactWords tells]] him he's not The One in ''Film/TheMatrix''. He then denies he's The One to the surviving members of the team despite him fitting the role exactly.

** Intentionally {{enforced|Trope}} by the Wachowski Brothers as they're trying to pack as much symbolism and double meaning they can into the film; which is why the Oracle [[CrypticConversation doesn't actually say]] Neo isn't The One, or correct his interpretation of her words, because you can't be TOLD whether or not you're The One.

-->--'''Touma Kamijou''', ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex''

Differs from MissedTheCall. Often overlaps with AccidentalHero. Contrast HeelRealization, where someone is ignorant of the fact that they're a ''villain''.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Monkey D. Luffy has taken down tyrannical presences and dangerous pirates, a malevolent self proclaimed god, and is currently pretty much taking on a government of well intentioned extremists, all while doing only what he wants to do.

* Darryl from the ''Literature/YoungWizards'' series of novels pretty much epitomizes this trope; [[spoiler:he is a living repository of magic literally sent by God to be a fountain of power for the magic of the human race]]. He remains blissfully unaware of the fact, mostly because [[spoiler: the knowledge of that fact would be lethal to him. If he ever became aware of what he was, he'd die. Just like that.]]

* Rincewind of ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fits this to a T. Despite being a plaything of the gods continually saving people, countries of the Disc, he seems unwilling to accept that he has anything but bad luck.
** Ironic, considering he has been chosen as the personal CosmicPlaything of the entity known as "the Lady". Or perhaps not, since (as the one with the Lady's favor) he gets both the good ''and'' the bad luck, which is good for his continued survival, but not necessarily good for his psyche.
** Carrot, of the City Guard. He does what's right, because that's what he's supposed to. If you mention his special sword, odd birth-mark and that prophecy about the true king returning, he'll just brush it off. (Of ''course'', [[ObfuscatingStupidity it very well may just be an act]]).

* Franchise/{{Superman}}. Compared to other superheroes, he does what he does because it was the right thing to do, not because he has any obligation to do so. [[Franchise/TheFlash Barry Allen]] is much the same way to the point where he was helping fight crime as a forensic scientist long before he ever received his powers.

A hero is Ignorant of the Call when he doesn’t know that he is, in fact, TheHero. Everybody around him knows that the character is the ChosenOne, but he, himself, just can’t see it. He fights the good fight and takes heroic actions… but it doesn’t seem heroic to him, nor does he think he was destined to do them. He simply does what he must because it is in his nature to act in that manner. When dealing with this sort of protagonist, the phrase “[[ImNotAHeroIm I’m not a hero]]” (or a variant thereof) is often heard, along with ThinkNothingOfIt. Don’t you believe it for a second.

* Ash Ketchum of ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', at least in the movies. He likes to think of himself simply as a Pokémon Trainer, but time after time he stumbles into situations where it's clear only he could save the day. It's {{Lampshade}}d in ''Anime/{{Pokemon 2000}}'', when the heroes realize that the phrase "The world shall turn to ash" didn't mean it would die, but the world would turn to ''Ash'' for help. His response? "Right now, I kinda wish that my mom named me Bob instead of Ash."
* [[IrresponsibleCaptainTylor Captain Tylor]]. Unless he's been ObfuscatingStupidity....
* [[OnePiece Monkey D. Luffy]] has taken down tyrannical presences and dangerous pirates, a malevolent self proclaimed god, and is currently pretty much taking on a government of well intentioned extremists, all while doing only what he wants to do.

* The Bulleteer story arc in DC Comics' ''[[SevenSoldiers Seven Soldiers of Victory]]'' limited series: Alix has no clue what her actions will lead to: [[spoiler: the killing of the Sheeda Queen]], and the events of her arc happen almost completely on the periphery of the main storyline.
** The story arc using Klarion the Witch Boy nearly reaches this, but I think he is a little more conscious of what is going on.
* {{Superman}}. Out of the superheroes, he does what he does because it was the right thing to do, not because he has any obligation to do so.
** [[TheFlash Barry Allen]] is much the same way to the point where he was helping fight crime as a forensic scientist long before he ever received his powers.

* Walt Kowalski in ''Film/GranTorino''.
* In ''Film/MyFavoriteYear'', Alan Swann profanely swears that he is just a flesh-and-blood man, life-sized and no larger, and is absolutely not the heroes he has been protraying on screen for years. And then goes on to utterly save the day.
* Anakin Skywalker might have been this in the {{Prequel}} trilogy of StarWars, it doesn't exactly make it clear.
* Neo thinks The Oracle [[ExactWords tells]] him he's not The One in the first ''Film/TheMatrix''. He then denies he's The One to the surviving members of the team despite him fitting the role exactly.

** Intentionally [[EnforcedTrope enforced]] by the Wachowski Brothers as they're trying to pack as much symbolism and double meaning they can into the film; which is why the Oracle [[CrypticConversation doesn't actually say]] Neo isn't The One, or correct his interpretation of her words, because you can't be TOLD whether or not you're The One.

* In Literature/TheDresdenFiles, Harry himself fits this. Although he is an extremely powerful wizard, and Archangel Uriel takes a personal interest, with the implication that God himself is taking some interest, he doesn't see himself as a hero. His stated primary motivation is paying his rent. It just so happens he takes on powerful forces and saves the world numerous times.
* Darryl from the YoungWizards series of novels pretty much epitomizes this trope; [[spoiler:he is a living repository of magic literally sent by God to be a fountain of power for the magic of the human race]]. He remains blissfully unaware of the fact, mostly because [[spoiler: the knowledge of that fact would be lethal to him. If he ever became aware of what he was, he'd die. Just like that.]]

* In {{Wheel of Time}} Mat and Perrin both insist that they are not heroes. The former repeatedly states that he is merely a blacksmith while the former often states that he is not a "flaming hero".
* John and Dave from ''JohnDiesAtTheEnd'' and ''This Book is Full of Spiders'' never see themselves as anything but a couple of slackers with few desires beyond drinking beer and playing video games. In the second book, after they've already saved the world from one EldritchAbomination in the first, Dave muses to himself:

* Tommy Gavin, from ''RescueMe''.

* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in Disney's ''Disney/RobinHood''. Friar Tuck says that Rob is a hero, but Robin just laughs it off.

* Graveheart of ''ShadowRaiders''. "I'm just a miner."
* Marlin, of ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'' just thinks of himself as a father who is desperately trying to recover his missing son. To Dory, and Nemo, the sea turtles, Nigel the Pelican, the fish in Dr. Sherman's tank, and many, many others, Marlin is a {{Badass}} [[TheDeterminator determinator]] who repeatedly triumphed over unbelievable odds.

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A hero is IgnorantOfTheCall when he doesn’t know that he is, in fact, TheHero. Everybody around him knows that the character is the ChosenOne, but he, himself, just can’t see it. He fights the good fight and takes heroic actions… but it doesn’t seem heroic to him, nor does he think he was destined to do them. He simply does what he must because it is in his nature to act in that manner. When dealing with this sort of protagonist, the phrase “[[ImNotAHeroIm I’m not a hero]]” (or a variant thereof) is often heard, along with ThinkNothingOfIt. Don’t you believe it for a second.

* Marlin, of ''FindingNemo'' just thinks of himself as a father who is desperately trying to recover his missing son. To Dory, and Nemo, the sea turtles, Nigel the Pelican, the fish in Dr. Sherman's tank, and many, many others, Marlin is a {{Badass}} [[TheDeterminator determinator]] who repeatedly triumphed over unbelievable odds.

* Harold Hill from ''TheMusicMan''. He does everybody all sorts of good even as he tries to milk them for every last cent before skipping town.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* Solid Snake from Franchise/MetalGear, arguably. At least, while everyone around him goes on about his "legendary hero" status, he always responds with some variant of "I'm no hero, just an old killer hired to do [[DirtyBusiness some wetwork]]."
* Hawke in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' has personal motivations for getting involved in the events of the game. Near the end of [[FramingDevice Cassandra's interrogation of Varric]], they both acknowledge the scope of his/her importance, both in the story and [[SequelHook the future]].

->'''Dr. Darling''': "Rex, that was amazing!"\\
'''Rex Colt''': "No. Paintings of sad clowns and dogs playing poker are amazing. This is just the job."
-->-- ''VideoGame/FarCry3BloodDragon''

* In the GreenSkyTrilogy, Raamo adamantly ''refuses'' to believe he is any better than other Kindar, despite being told this by everyone in range, including the ostensible High Priestess of the Ol-Zhaan. Ironically, it's because he refuses to buy into the elevated status that he gets the attention of [[TheLancer Neric]], who needs someone that incorruptible to help him investigate his suspicions about how the Ol-Zhaan are running things.