Personality
Leonardo, more often known as just Leo, is portrayed as the leader and big brother of the turtles. He is dedicated to his ninjitsu training and to his family and friends. Leo is shown to be extremely selfless, being willing to do anything to protect the people that he loves. He is also shown to be a perfectionist and frequently blames himself if harm was brought upon people he cared about. In the 2003 series he eventually realized, with the help of the Ancient One, that because he tried so hard to be perfect he made himself into his own worst enemy.
Leo devotes a large amount of time to his training and often his brothers need to "pull him out of his shell". He is usually calm and rarely lose his temper except when his loved ones are threatened. In series 4 of the 2003 series, Leo became increasingly stern and sullen and also displayed a temper that rivaled that of Raphael. It was revealed that his personality had become more aggressive because he put too much pressure on himself. The Ancient One helped Leo come to terms with his difficulties and helped calm the anger that had been simmering inside him since the Shredder's final defeat.
Leo was extremely devoted to Bushido and had a strong sense of honour. In the 2003 series, he also tried to see the best in people, notably Karai. Leo's relationship with Karai was complicated. Mutual respect turned to friendship but after the Shredder was defeated and sent to a frozen asteroid, Karai developed a grudge against all the turtles and Splinter and tried to kill all of them. Leo defeated Karai in combat but still saw good in her and allowed her to live, allowing Karai to redeem herself during the Ninja Tribunal series.
Leo was usually portrayed as being the most talented ninja among the turtles, notably being responsible for beheading the Shredder near the end of Season 1 of the 2003 series. He wields two Katana swords with enough skill to fight all four of the Shredder's Elite Guard all by himself despite being exhausted at the time although he was defeated. During his final duel with Karai, Leo won fairly easily, although it should be noted that Karai had been blinded by rage for what had happened to her adopted father, the Shredder.
Read more about this topic: Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Famous quotes containing the word personality:
“But most of us are apt to settle within ourselves that the man who blocks our way is odious, and not to mind causing him a little of the disgust which his personality excites in ourselves.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)
“The monk in hiding himself from the world becomes not less than himself, not less of a person, but more of a person, more truly and perfectly himself: for his personality and individuality are perfected in their true order, the spiritual, interior order, of union with God, the principle of all perfection.”
—Thomas Merton (1915–1968)
“The great pines stand at a considerable distance from each other. Each tree grows alone, murmurs alone, thinks alone. They do not intrude upon each other. The Navajos are not much in the habit of giving or of asking help. Their language is not a communicative one, and they never attempt an interchange of personality in speech. Over their forests there is the same inexorable reserve. Each tree has its exalted power to bear.”
—Willa Cather (1873–1947)