Reflecting on the Hero

Assignment One- September 20-September 24: Thinking About the Hero
You've all read Beowulf, The Odyssey, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Most of you have seen (if not read) Star Wars films or Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Lord of the Rings. What do all of these works have in common? Many people would say that the protagonists in all of these could be considered heroes. But are they? What is a hero? How do we define heroic actions or behavior? And can a woman be a hero(ine)? If so, why are there no women in that list above? If heroes serve as models of particular conduct, how would you define that conduct? Secondarily, what purpose do heroes serve to us as humans? Do we need them? Why? Bertolt Brecht once said, "Unhappy the land that needs heroes." What does this mean, in light of your understanding of what a makes a hero? In your blog, explore the idea of the hero, making sure that you address all relevant questions.


When people picture heroes, they often picture Superman or some such really great guy. Traditionally, the hero was someone (usually a man) who, through some selfless act of intelligence and bravery, saves an innocent life, stops a criminal act from occurring, or stands up for the little defenseless guy. Even in modern contexts, we see this archetype; a pilot who doesn’t let his plane get blown to smithereens by a flock of birds must legally change his name to “Hero,” and while such an act may be laudable, today’s news media is all too eager to turn such a story into simply the next moneymaking headline.
Regardless of our motives for praising those we call “heroes,” our current criterion for heroic behavior have not changed too much from the days of Beowulf and Huck Finn. The traits a “hero” must possess usually include: honesty, bravery, strength, intelligence, selflessness, resourcefulness, trustworthiness, loyalty, dedication to justice, and, on occasion, friendliness.
In history, literature, and the public mindset, heroes are often men. However, today the general “hero” image is a little more flexible. Women of excellence are gaining “hero” status. People of different professions and origins are receiving praise; police officers, firemen/women, scientists (Marie Curie and her husband), and social/environmental activists (Rachel Carson) are all being called heroic for their noble acts and contributions to society.
I believe that the conspicuous absence of women in the list of “heroes” above is largely due to women’s expected roles in society at the time those stories were created, and how that perception of women has come into our modern culture. Women were seen as weaker, less intelligent, and less capable of “heroic” feats; whether intentional or not, this view has carried over to the present through the collective subconscious of our society.
To us, heroes (both real and fictitious) serve as exemplars of behavior and skill. Both children and adults look up to and respect those who are admired by society, in the hopes of being admired themselves. We absolutely need good role models to look up to, and for the most part, the widely accepted “hero” image is an appropriate image to replicate. A society in which people strive to imitate honest and brave heroes is a society with a healthy and positive mindset. On the other side of the coin, however, it is never a good idea to blindly follow someone just because he or she is famous, or to go jumping off the roofs of buildings in the hopes of being the next Superman. Anything in excess can be detrimental.
Bertolt Brecht’s quotation, “Unhappy the land that needs heroes,” can have several meanings; he can mean that a society in want of heroes is unhappy, or that a society that needs heroes to survive is unhappy. I’ll reflect on the latter. I must agree that any society that cannot survive on its own, without the aid of bunches of exemplary people, is not a particularly strong society. However, why should a society not have any brave, strong, selfless people? Heroic people are unavoidable; they pop up every once in a while whether we like it or not. What determines the beneficial or detrimental effects of those people is how a society treats and responds to its heroes. Truly heroic behavior should be encouraged, and praise should be given to those who commit brave and selfless acts. We just need to take care not to make a hero from a simple celebrity.