Han Solo as an Anti-Hero

Han Solo is a shining example of an anti-hero, he's rude, rash, and only performs heroic deeds in hopes of being paid (at least that's his reasoning in Episode 4).  When we first meet Han, he is a low life smuggler on the run from a gangster he borrowed money from, not the usual innocent beginning we expect of a protagonist.  Han only takes in the two Jedi in hopes that their pay will help him finally be rid of Jabba the Hut's grasp, which is pretty selfish when compared to Luke and Obi-won's goal of ending the dictator like rule of the Empire.  Han, like all anti-heroes, eventually warms up to the idea of helping protect the greater good and returns at the end of "A New Hope" just in time to save Luke.