Ochaco Uraraka’s Evolving Definition of Heroism: From Saving to Quirk Counseling

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Summary

  • Ochaco Uraraka’s development revolves around her evolving definition of heroism and what it means to save.
  • Ochaco’s noble desire to save and help others is inspired by Deku and challenged by Toga.
  • Ochaco’s growth culminates in her pursuit to address hero society’s underlying issues with quirk counseling.

The main idea underlying My Hero Academia explores the concept of what it truly means to be a hero. Throughout each page, chapter, and volume, this question is repeatedly addressed and attempts are made to present compelling, albeit complex, responses. Among the numerous heroes in this narrative who offer their unique interpretations and demonstrations of heroism, Ochaco Uraraka emerges as a character consistently pondering and refining her own understanding of what it means to be heroic.

Starting off the narrative with the same enthusiasm and self-assurance typical of any high school student, her encounters with the hardships and challenges within the hero community cause her to question her role in the world. By the conclusion of the series, Ochaco emerges as a guiding light among heroes, advocating for a fresh perspective influenced by the trials faced by both allies and adversaries. Upon examining Ochaco’s character, people frequently remark that she is only driven by money, a straightforward interpretation of one of her initial statements about heroism. However, to truly grasp her motivations and their evolution, there are crucial events and figures that have significantly molded the person she has become today.

Ochaco Uraraka Origin

Ochaco’s Motivation to Become a Hero is a Noble One

Prior to joining U.A., Ochaco had witnessed her parents face hardships and felt compelled to aid them in any way possible. At first, she thought about utilizing her quirk for their construction business, but her parents encouraged her to pursue her own aspirations instead. This led her to aspire to become a professional hero, leveraging her abilities to help others while also earning enough money to assist her family. When she explained this motivation to Deku and Iida before the Sports Festival, it became clear that her character was more complex than someone merely seeking financial gain. However, even before that moment, we can see that Ochaco’s character is rooted in selflessness, as evidenced by her generous offer to give Deku her entrance exam points. This act demonstrated that she possesses a strong moral compass and the determination to do what she believes is right.

It turns out that she enjoyed watching heroes as a child because she admired how they brought joy to others. Her parents, who were often weary due to their business, would also brighten up at such acts of heroism. These early encounters significantly influenced her values, leading her to aspire towards the goal of making people happy again in the future.

Deku’s Inspiration

Deku Was, In Many Ways, Ochaco’s Ideal Hero

From the get-go at U.A., Ochaco draws significant inspiration from Deku. Observing his relentless pursuit of his dream, even to the point of exhausting his body and consistently surpassing his own limits, she starts to model herself after him more frequently. This admiration is not lost on others, especially Aoyama, who inquires if her thoughts about Deku during their final exam are rooted in romantic feelings.

As Deku served as a role model for her, she initially found it easy to view her feelings towards him as purely platonic. However, as the series progressed, those feelings grew stronger, causing her distress. She tried to ignore them at first, but eventually, she couldn’t escape them. In the end, she had to confront these feelings that had been building since their initial encounter and beyond.

Deku’s determination to save and excel as a hero captivated Ochaco, inspiring her to do the same. Yet, this very quality also made her question her own aspirations as a hero and the level of dedication required. One character in particular provoked these thoughts within her, from their first meeting through to their final encounter and beyond.

“I’ll focus on working just as hard as he does.” – Ochaco thinking about Deku

Toga’s Challenges

Deku Isn’t Ochaco’s Only Inspiration

In the storyline, it’s Toga who has the most significant impact on Chia-Hero (Ochaco) among all characters, including Deku. Their encounters repeatedly test the concept of heroism. Compared to Ochaco, Toga appears to lead a more liberated existence. She unabashedly expresses her affection for Deku and Ochaco, which often makes others uncomfortable or even frightened. For a person like Ochaco who frequently suppresses her emotions and neglects her desires, Toga serves as a significant obstacle to her beliefs.

I too grapple with my perception of villains, and Ochaco’s case is a perfect example. Despite Toga’s heinous actions, such as exploiting her own quirk, I find it hard to condemn her entirely. Upon delving deeper into her narrative, I see striking similarities between us, two women who share the same affections for the same boy and yearn for personal freedom. In a parallel universe, we might have been friends rather than adversaries.

Reflecting on these points, Ochaco comes to understand that there’s much she can learn from Toga about self-expression and heroism. It was Toga who ultimately helped Ochaco acknowledge her feelings for Izuku Midoriya as love. Additionally, through interactions with Toga, Ochaco starts to question the very essence of saving people and who truly requires help.

Saving People

Ochaco Truly Becomes a Rescue Hero

In the world of MHA, there exists various interpretations of what constitutes a “hero”. A hero can be defined as someone who intervenes even when not required, someone aspiring to rescue and triumph, or an individual whose actions are instinctive, like a well-oiled machine. For Ochaco, being a hero signifies the ability to bring joy to others, mirroring the effect her own childhood hero had on her. However, through encounters with Deku, Toga, and particularly Nighteye, she begins to ponder the true obligations of a hero, and what it truly means to save people.

In the thrilling Shie Hassaikai arc, I found myself cradling the fading Nighteye in my arms, as once more, Deku sacrificed himself heroically to shield everyone. Later, Aizawa offered a soothing words and urged me to ponder my future. Unlike the multitude of reasons I’d previously expressed, driven by my yearning to aid my parents, in that moment, I straightforwardly stated: “I want to save people.” From thereon, the meaning behind those words began to unfold for me in a way it never had before.

“I want to save people.” – Ochaco’s response to Nighteye’s death

Saving Deku

With Deku, she has witnessed him enduring pain and neglecting self-care throughout the story, and she deeply yearns to alleviate his suffering. In a pivotal scene for Ochaco, Deku and society as a whole, she confronts a suspicious group of citizens reluctant to let Deku into the shelter of U.A., urging them to pause and consider who Izuku Midoriya truly is – the individual behind the hero persona. Prior to this, it’s evident that Deku hadn’t given much thought to this himself, and while previously Ochaco might have hesitated in such a moment, she took a stand to answer the “hero question”. Moved by instinct rather than thought, she initiated the process of recognizing and rescuing Izuku Midoriya.

Saving Toga

With Toga, there was a struggle to reconcile her role as a villain with the tragic circumstances of her childhood. Like Deku, everyone in Toga’s life overlooked her and her difficulties. However, unlike Deku who was excluded because he lacked a superpower, Toga was vilified and shunned for hers. This treatment transformed her into the Toga we know today – a member of the Villain League, a character whose actions caused much distress to Ochaco and many others. To save Toga, Ochaco had to recognize the innocent girl hidden beneath her villainous persona. Beneath her reputation as a villain, Toga was essentially a girl yearning for love. Although her ending wasn’t as victorious as others, she found the acknowledgment she had craved all her life when Ochaco saved her, and in doing so, she was able to leave on her own terms.

Ochaco Uraraka Rising

Ochaco Ends the Series With a New Guiding Purpose

In the final chapter of the series, Ochaco is shown utilizing all her past encounters to tackle the fundamental issues within hero community. Similar to a physician advocating preventative measures for a patient, Ochaco aims to assist individuals in managing their quirks’ challenges before they lead to distress or rejection, much like what happened with Toga and numerous others excluded by hero society.

With her innovative approach to counseling, she stands as one of the most significant embodiments of heroism within the My Hero Academia universe. She has come to understand and address the unique struggles that each individual faces, whether quirk-related or not. In this way, she offers her own interpretation of what it takes to be a true hero.

I’m thrilled to share that you can find “My Hero Academia” streaming online on platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime (where available). If you’re more into reading manga, don’t forget to download the VIZ’s Shonen Jump App, where you can immerse yourself in the world of “My Hero Academia”!

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2025-03-11 22:55