Who is the "Gentle Giant"?

Music for the Article

He's big, muscular and angry looking. He might even be an actual monster. People are often fearful of him. But he's got a heart of gold. He loves children and puppies, and frequently abhors unnecessary violence. He probably has a few unexpected hobbies. He's the Gentle Giant. However, when push comes to shove, he's great to have on your side in battle.

This is a subversion of common sense that has become an archetype in its own right. We are all used to thinking of big people and giant creatures as frightening and mean. Starting back as far as Frankenstein's Monster or earlier, the seven-foot shambling hulk of a man is almost always gentle inside, and misunderstood by society at large.



This archetype is so common it's probably more surprising for the musclebound hulk to turn out to be a jerk or bloodthirsty.

There are actually many people like this in real life for example:

André the Giant. With the exception of when he acted as an "evil wrestler" (who wasn't that evil, by the way) he had always been adored by fans and wrestlers alike for his kind, gentle nature. William Goldman, a wrestling fan, based the character Fezzik in his novel The Princess Bride on Andre. In a documentary about him, the people from his childhood village in France recalled that he was the sweetest, kindest man they had ever known. Many actors and wrestlers who worked with him cannot speak of him without fighting back tears.

Mr T is infamous for his tough-guy persona, and for being pretty huge. Interviews with him, however, reveal him as a very Nice Guy to the point he once actually expressed genuine pity for the devil himself apparently, the Devil is the fool he pities most of all, because "he's all about the hate" and "he aint got nothin' good goin' for him."

Great example sof the gentle Giant.

I can nit pick a favorite. I like them both.

I wish eveyone has a gentle giant as a friend-you would not want them as your enemies hahahahahahahaha

This article gave good attributes to these characters-oh yeah loved the music-good choice