Thinking About the Hero

 Storytelling has been a part of human history since our beginning. From cave art made by the first peoples, to plays performed at the great Globe Theatre, and to the movies we binge watch on Netflix today, a common element has been present over all the eras of narratives: stories about heroes. But why are these narratives so attractive to us? For starters, they serve to inspire us more than anything. The feelings characters experience course through us, like adrenaline and fear, but also excitement and splendor. We want to feel this same rush of feelings heroes do, and get us thinking about what more to life there is. We're encouraged to discover things individually, about the world and oneself. Furthermore, they allow us to take a break from reality; more often than not, these fictional characters are appealing to us, and we love getting to know them from an outside perspective. It gives us another world to live in for a while, full of places and creatures and people we would never encounter in the real world on Earth. Everyone can use a break from reality at one point or another, and these stories of heroism help us to get lost in a dramatic adventure, and become one with the story; it can almost feel like you’re right there. These tales additionally serve to help people realize a lesson, or teach about right and wrong. Oftentimes, it is children who grow up reading about these tales, and it is important they have a sense of morality before they grow up and subcuum to outside influence. These heroic narratives typically follow a structure that goes something like this: a mythological/literary man embarks on some form of a journey or quest, in order to complete a specified goal. There are challenges they must overcome, and typically they learn something about themselves on the way.  However, this portrayal of heroes throughout history implies that all heros are males of fantasy, and sets solid specifications for what can be considered a hero. This however, contradicts what we are told in reality; society labels certain acts as heroic, and many average citizens are hailed as heroes. In truth, we don’t really know what a hero is anymore, or how to define one. To sort out this confusion, let’s first start by examining the classic heroes of our time.

Once upon a time heroes referred to the divine beings in ancient mythology who conquered great feats, and in no way is this an argument that they weren’t heroic. In fact, they are the basis for what is known as heroic today. These fantastic stories never lost their appeal, and continued for centuries. Superman is the most classic superhero of this generation, and fits neatly into the stereotypical hero: he has a firm moral integrity, he puts other peoples’ wellbeing before his own, and uses his own strengths for the greater good. It is no question that these are the traits most commonly associated with the typical hero, for most people. But do all the other “heros” people rallied around for years also fit these qualities? Take Luke Skywalker for example: he is quite obviously extraordinarily brave and thinks about other people before himself, and incredibly loyal while using the abilities he has to protect others from the Empire and Darth Vader. However, in many different points in the trilogy, his ill temper shines through and he has times of unpredictability, aggressiveness, and impulsive behavior. It may be argued that because of these negative traits Luke possesses, he cannot be considered a hero. However, this is where the definition fails us again; no one is perfect, so why are heroes expected to be? This is true for many other of the heroes we grew up hearing about in fiction. The protagonist in these stories usually performs some great feat or accomplishment, and oftentimes their respective flaws make that challenge even harder, something Luke Skywalker, Huckleberry Finn, and especially Odysseus have in common. In Huckleberry Finn’s case, it is his naiveness that gets him into trouble, similarly to how Odysseus’s hubris often causes struggles for him in his journey. However, these flaws they possess do not take away from the good deeds they do, and oftentimes makes them stronger; moreover, this idea of a hero having flaws helps to make them more realistic, as flaws are part of human nature. Yet, if all these different kinds of characters are considered heroes, then what specific traits make up a hero? Is there a specific definition, when all these charcters are so different?

Attempting to define a hero is difficult, as there are so many perspectives to view it from. The dictionary definition of a hero has several different results when searched for; Merriam-Webster’s first given definition of a hero is “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability.” This is partly true, but it contradicts what society has deemed as heroic. In September of 2001, the media and citizens of the U.S. rallied around those who were at ground zero, helping to save lives after the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. The first responders on 9/11 were definitely not mythological creatures or of divine descent; they were real people who showed up to work one morning, not knowing the magnitude of the hardships they would face that day. The firefighters and EMTs who lost their lives trying to save others are undoubtedly heros, who were indeed filled with great strength. In one perspective, this given definition cannot be completely accurate, because these men and women were not fictional. However, it can also be said that all those giving aid on that day are not true heroes, as they are not mythological; so how are we supposed to pick which way we want to view heros? The next definition offers little to help this dilemma. It describes heroes as “the principal character in a literary or dramatic work —used specifically of a principal male character especially when contrasted with heroine.” These parameters are not completely false either; the term hero, more often than not, rings of fantastical adventures, filled with tales of fear and bravery. But again, does this imply heroes do not exist in real life? The media is quick to label certain acts of bravery as heroism, and in the wake of any disaster or tragedy those who help to prevent it or do all they can in the aftermath are called heros. These again, are very real people, not out of some great myth. Yet, these definitions provided claim that heros must be parts of mythology or literature; this is challenged when we change the form of the word just ever so slightly. To be heroic, as defined by Marriam-Webster again, means “exhibiting or marked by courage and daring; supremely noble or self-sacrificing.” This definition of heroic behavior does not specifically specify a being of fantasy sort, and thus is much more applicable to real life. From these definitions, it appears that heroes can only be of fiction, but real people can have heroic qualities. However these definitions are simply words strung together to form the meaning of another word. In reality, we must draw from our own personal experiences in this situation; nearly everyone is going to have a slightly different version of a hero pictured in their head, due to what they’ve experienced in their own lives. These definitions can add slightly to our understanding of what makes up a hero, but we must look beyond simple definitions for the answer. 

From what society has shown me, teachers have taught me, and experiences I’ve gone through, I believe the term heroes to be quite broad. It can include the fictional superheroes we looked up to in our childhood, our religious figures, or traditional heros from ancient works; it most definitely includes the people we encounter in our everyday lives. The barista we get our coffee from, the same face we see jog by our house every morning, the mailman who drives by each day, and the list goes on. The point is that they could all be heroes and one might not even know it; there is no physical difference that separates them from the average person, neither is there any observable personality difference. True heroes do not perform acts of bravery or kindness for recognition, but rather because their moral integrity tells them it is the right thing to do. Furthermore, in real life there are no constraints to how a hero should look or behave. I previously discussed how all heroes are real people, and therefore can be of any race, gender/sexuality, religion, or pretty much any other category that doesn’t make you a straight white dude. It is ludacris to think that only these straight white dudes can be heros, as throughout history, they have faced far less discrimination and hatred than any other group of people. It can most definitely be argued that women and other marginalized groups deserve even more recognition as heroes, for the strength and bravery they must employ not just some days, but all days. It is completely ignorant to believe these individuals cannot be considered heroes, as they all possess the ability. Men are so often portrayed as heroes because we now associate stereotypical male traits with traits of heroic figures, such as being dominant and strong. But who's to say females cannot be dominant and strong, or that you must have these traits to be a hero? They are so absent from this type of story throughout literature, it’s hard to even think of one. However, this does not mean they don’t exist in the real world; I’ve found that all heroes, real or fictional, typically think of other peoples’ wellbeing before their own. They are brave, especially when they don’t want to be, and will conquer their fears for the greater good. They act out of the good of their heart, to serve and help other people; they’re the type of people who make a positive difference in one’s life, small or large, consciously or not. Again, they can always be flawed, but this does not take away from their heroism. These characteristics can apply to any human being, regardless of shape, size, or color, and no group is less likely to have these. Being a true hero is all about who you are on the inside, not what facade you put up for other people; true heroes live to make others' lives better, in anyway they can.