A guide on HERO, from Teeth
I will be reiterating all my previous points from the last post but also try to go into more depth—as it's much easier because he's confirmed to be an actual character now!
Be wary I might lose the line of interpretation and canon, though I'll try my best to compile what's hinted. As always, feel free to share your own interpretations!
୨୧ Who is HERO ?
Sex is one of the most defining factors in TEETH, whether it'd be sex in the context of intercourse or biologically—it'll still hold significance in the musical's themes and message.
The plot alone displays that Dentata, a Goddess that existed before Genesis represents females or the feminocrats as an entirety. She naturally needs a patriarchal counterpart, which they decided on the "hero"—a character always consistent throughout the different variations of the Vagina Dentata myth.
A hero is described to be a masculine figure whose goal is to deteeth those who possess it as a way to make the woman pure again. Within the musical, his concept (and an introduction to his character) was shown in According to the Wiki. He is described as a he who can break the teeth with his cock, a man of purity with courage and nobility. At the final version of the song, he also describes himself as a patriarchal leader.
In short, HERO is Brad's masculinity that possesses him somewhere along the story. He acts as the actual main villain (or antagonist being the better term), being the embodiment of the patriarchy and all that. My favorite way to word this is using the analogy: Dentata is Dawn's vagina and HERO is Brad's cock.
୨୧ Implications / Introduction in the musical
The fandom (discord server) already foresaw HERO before the book release and the book conference that confirmed his character, the original HERO breakdown post was months before both of these! So how was his identity concluded? By looking through the lines of the two different productions, it's clear that he exists one way or another. Also because in the Genius pages of Dentata it was said that Brad's name was changed to HERO in the script despite the script not being released so theories happened…
His presence and implication throughout the story differs from each production, TEETH is known to still be in development until its closing night on New World Stages—opening to lots of versions on how he can be presented.
Playwrights Horizon:
There's not exactly a Playwrights Horizon version of the script, so I'm not sure if the HERO name change occured but one thing I'm certain is that he was hinted to exist. The first instance was before A Real Man where Brad was opening up to the Truthseekers about his sexuality issues, then eventually being peer pressured into touching himself.
This is only in one recording I know of (the most well known/shared around version of Playwrights), but it goes as:
Where is HE underneath your skin? HE's there behind your eyes Release HIM from captivity And let your WARRIOR rise Fear not the thorns of womanhood Cuz' you've got a big surprise And it's hanging right there in between your thighs
Compared to how it usually goes, which is:
Who is she underneath her skin? What lurks behind her eyes? Where are her fangs and tentacles? When will her dark moon rise? She hides behind virginity, It's just a cheap disguise Cuz' the truth is hidden in between her thighs
They don't ask who or what HERO is, because they know what he is. The question they ask is about where exactly is Brad's masculinity, which they answer at the end. Further justifying the analogy provided earlier! Between Her Thighs is a song about Dentata, so in a way this reprise is a direct parallel to HERO.
In this version, Brad got possessed a bit later—providing a smaller timeframe on showing HERO's character. The reprise of Between Her Thighs in the song Dentata is Brad's response to the Truthseekers, an active representation of him being possessed by HERO. Before this was the last time he got referred to as his identity, Brad—Bill O'Keefe's son.
I feel him underneath my skin He's there behind my eyes He fears no thorns of womanhood He's got a big surprise!
New World Stages:
This production is when HERO was confirmed and turned to his own character instead of a hinted being. This was to make him into a counterpart of Dentata, who was also turned into a completely different character to Dawn. They removed the reprise of Between Her Thighs, I think it's because of the fact that HERO isn't speculated anymore but rather fully fleshed out and confirmed.
The released script (PDF version available in the TEETH archive for those who wanna see) actively changes Brad's name or character into HERO, referring to it as Brad transforming into HERO in According To The Wiki. They added this one line that directly shows it.
I will defeat Dentata and her army With iron fists, brass balls and a cock of STEELUH Because I AM HEROO!
This is direct confirmation that Brad was possessed during the events of ATTW, much earlier compared to the original production. There's a significant difference between the phrasing of "I am the hero", "I am a hero" and "I am HERO". It's used as a proper noun, a name instead of the typical term hero.
A few other changes were done in favor of turning HERO into an actual character, this includes the line change immediately after. Though I'll focus more on the lines that show his existence, particularly the ones during the song Dentata.
Your son is dead, I killed him. There is only HERO now.
Further highlighting that this isn't Bradley anymore, just his body being used as some sort of vessel.
୨୧ Characterization
HERO is everything you'd expect from the embodiment of man. It's hard to characterize a character that you only know exists if you look through the script. But the few lyrics and endings show who he is. As a patriarchal leader, he's arrogant. After his possession (or unsheathing within?) Brad his modified ATTW lyrics follow:
Album/Playwrights (Brad Version): Yes she could dismember me, but the win is worth the risk so we have to try.
NWS (HERO Version): With this dick I'll conquer her, we will end the feminocracy our victory is nigh!
Showing off a significant difference between their characters. HERO particularly being overconfident, I personally see this because it's always been like that since the beginning of time. The man always comes out on top (unfortunately for HERO, not this time). HERO is self-centered and preserving, only caring about his well-being and seeing others (including his subordinates) as lower entities. This is provided with the way he treats the Patriarchs after his snippet in Dentata—similar to a way you'd treat dogs. Telling them to come to him and to sniff the air to bring Dentata to him—and the Patriarchs still do it without question. Adding onto this, he never cared about the Patriarchs or "the fall of man", as revealed in one of the endings. His main goal was to simply be the last man standing, to prove himself of being a god. I see this as some sort of thing where males lack the connection females have with each other? In a sense? "Seek the truth and be free" is said to be some sort of message to submit to HERO, I'm not entirely sure how to word this but it goes as...
DENTATA: Seek the truth and be free, to do what Truthseeker? Obey you. Don't try to act like some kind of saint with me.
୨୧ How to differentiate HERO and Bradley?
Contrary to Dawn and Dentata, whose possession happens strictly in the song Dentata, HERO and Brad have a complicated unsheathing/possession timeline. The most common difference is Brad and HERO is their outfits.
Brad's usual outfit and the "TRUTHSEEKER" uniform
In NWS, HERO is there in the middle of ATTW. HERO always wears the Truthseeker uniform. The general consensus (I think) is that in NWS, anything after the "I AM HERO" part in ATTW while in Playwrights it's anything after Brad's part in Dentata. TL;DR - HERO is Brad's masculinity that was made as a counterpart for Brad's Dentata. He's a representation of all mankind, resulting to a character full of arrogance and self-centeredness.
Ly Notes: LONG OVERDUE post, I made this like 2 weeks ago and it's been almost 2 months since his character was technically confirmed... Yes the last one was all speculation HAHAHA but this one should be more accurate! And if not it's because I crammed this at midnight. (˶˃𐃷˂˶)
