In the word heroism, you clearly can see the word hero, but what does heroism really mean? Heroism is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a noun and is either 1. heroic conduct as exhibited in fulfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end or 2. The qualities of a hero. Even though the message is clear of what heroism is in the definition, do we know what it is really? In the eyes of some, a hero is one who doesn't accept failure, but one that tries with enthusiasm repeatedly every time one falls in order to achieve or hope to reach sight of their dreams. The wise pacifist, Mahatma Gandhi, once quoted,”Heroes are made in the hours of defeat. Success is, therefore, well described as a series of glorious defeats.”. This quotation …show more content…
Heroism has no bias function, but through the situations that hits one, heroism can shine through or conceal itself from the false bearer. Is it the acts of kindness that leak out the functionality of heroism or a fantasy warrior who fights to charm others. Heroism works on many horizons and can be classified in many complex rubrics or classifications, for example, one might say a person who has impacted one person’s life is not a hero, but a person who has aided many is a hero. One example of a hero is in the poem, A Man, in the various examples of how soldier lives his life in handicap, but chooses to make his life as normal as possible and for others by going the extra mile. Another example might be in the movie, Mulan, where a young Chinese girl chooses to fight in her ill-stricken father’s place to restore her family’s honor. In the vast populations eyes, every special person sees a hero in a different way, for some these examples above might not be the type of heroes that a couple of people might not come face to face with or even think of; No one genuinely knows how heroism really functions, for there is 7.6 billion different variations of what heroism is. Heroism in another possible viewpoint could be a powerful force of righteousness in the embodiment of a pure soul and acts of kindness or acts of willing love. Another possible perspective of heroism could be the way how others want to benefit society in majorly positive ways. …show more content…
An example of heroism in action is when acts of feelings and unreasonability forges a brighter future from the pits of darkness with only the faintest glows of light. An example of heroism could be that in dire situations a hero emerges from an ordinary person when he or she rises up to the occasion and performs the extraordinary. Ana is a victim of the treacherous disease of cancer, and is a wholesome example of heroism, she fought cancer with a smile and went above and beyond to make her family’s lives as normal as possible, as if cancer was a distant memory. Furthermore, heroism could be, when one is made from the pure truthfulness in one’s heart, cherishing every soul without hesitation. Heroes face many things to become what they are, they sacrifice, face life’s obstacles, like in the poem Moco Limping by David Nava Monreal, he’s a dog with a dead leg. Moco is a hero because he helped his owner realize the the importance of valuing everyone for who they are and not what they are not. Though there are many acts of heroism, not always are they for the benefit for other, but for the self-declared
Who is a hero? In contemporary times, usage of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has become representative of a wide variety of individuals, each possessing differing traits. Some of the answers put forth by my colleagues (during our in-class discussion on heroism) as to whom they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers and family members. Although the occupations differed, each of their heroes bore qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, whether morally or physically. Nonetheless, Webster’s defines “hero” as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Thus, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes relative to the situation with which they’re faced.
All in all, heroism is a vague word that could be defined as many of things. Such as bravery, courage, honesty, morality, trusts...etc. If Beowulf was defined as a hero then the knight should be defined as one also seeing as he gave the old women the choice to be old and good or pretty and bad. Or if the Author of The Art of Courtly love cannot be heroic and then write in a way of being heroic how can one decide what heroism is. All three of these studies show different forms and fashions of heroic people, feelings, and attitudes. Overall heroism is and always will be based on personal opinion, what one person defines as a hero can be completely different from what another person sees it as.
What makes a hero? To me a hero is a person that does whatever is necessary to protect the people they’re serving or protecting. In the dictionary it says a hero is “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.”
Heroism. Heroism is “heroic conduct” or “courageous action”(“Heroism”). People throughout America’s history, and the world’s history, for more than hundreds of years, have satisfied the standards of heroism, rising above and doing what is right. Heroism doesn’t have to mean saving somebody’s life. To be a hero, one does not need a cape or a villain to fight. Exhibiting acts of heroism can be as small helping retrieve a cat from a tree or as large as helping put out the fire of a burning building. Whether one’s acts of heroism are miniscule or major, they occur every day by ordinary people, proving their extraordinary abilities. After World War II ended, many acts of heroism were displayed that are still remembered today, specifically involving Operation Little Vittles. Over two million citizens living in West Berlin were doomed, cut off from the outside world by the Russians, praying for a miracle. Their wish came true when a handful of pilots agreed to drop thousands of tons of food and fuel from the air in Berlin. One of these esteemed pilots goes by the name of Gail Halvorsen, who changed the situation of the Russian blockade for the better. Halvorsen made the daring decision to drop thousands of individual packages of candy to all of the sweet deprived citizens of West Berlin. Pilot Gail Halvorsen contributed a daring effort by flying day in and day out dropping candy all with the hopes of trying to improve the awful conditions for those involved in the blockade, putting smiles on people’s faces and living up to the standards of heroism.
Heroes are found everywhere in the world. They are seen in movies, on television, in books, and in reality. A hero can be anyone, from a friend to a fictional character. To be considered a hero, one must make selfless sacrifices, develop and learn, overcome challenges and temptations, and ultimately present their known world with a gift of any kind. Homer’s
In today's modern times we hear the word hero all of the time. The news media throws the term around as if it is an everyday word. What exactly is a hero? Who, or what, can be classified as heroic? The correct definition of the word hero is: One invested with heroic qualities in the opinions of others. That is a fine definition for books and intellectual minds. To the average person, however, a hero is much more.
The word hero as defined as an “individual who has the courage of conviction to perform feats that benefit the general populace, acts as a soldier of virtue, and has an altruistic spirit that urges him or her to act against evil and defend the greater good at all costs, even sacrificing his own well-being or life.” (Harrison 2). Although heroes can come in any shape and size they are commonly found in stories we read, movies we watch, or people we look up to. We do not think about it much but even our own life is made up of many hero’s journeys. We never realize that our hardships and how we overcome them is exactly what a Hero’s Journey is about and why we relate to and enjoy these stories so much. I will be going into the depths of a Hero’s
Joseph Campbell defines a hero as “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself” (Moyers 1). The Hero’s Journey consists of three major parts: the separation, the initiation, and the return. Throughout a character’s journey, they must complete a physical or spiritual deed. A physical deed involves performing a daunting and courageous act that preserves the well-being of another person. A spiritual deed calls for action that improves another individual’s state of mind.
Heroism entails several things; a selfless act, courage, or the accomplishments of bold and daring expeditions. A hero can also mean courage in the face of death. Others may view this type of hero as stupid, or a martyr. Every hero has faults and these faults along with heroic deeds make the man or woman; a hero, heroine.
For the last 5 years Zimbardo and his colleagues have been studying and exploring the nature as well as the roots of heroism. With this study he defines what heroism is in several parts. “First, it’s performed in service to others in need. Second, it’s engaged in voluntarily, even in military contexts, as heroism remains an act that goes beyond something required by military duty. Third, a heroic act is one performed with recognition of possible risks and costs, be they to one’s physical health or personal reputation, in which the individual is willing to accept anticipated sacrifice. Finally, it is performed without external gain anticipated at the time of the act
From the beginning of time, mythology has appeared to be one key method of understanding life’s confusions and battles. Within these myths lies a hero. From myth to myth and story to story, heroes experience what may be called a struggle or a journey, which lays down their plot line. Bearing tremendous strength, talent, and significant admiration, a hero holds what is precious to their audience, heroism. Over time however, no matter the hero, the hero’s role remains indistinguishable and identical to the position of every other hero.
There is another type of hero that almost no one is aware of. In the poorest areas of the country, live mostly minorities and other ethic background. All their lives they’ve been expected to work harder and expected not succeed in life. Some individuals living in poverty with a determination to succeed work hard all of their lives to become what everybody doubted they could. Escaping the crime, drugs, and prostitution is enough to escape hell, even if they don’t go to college. Despite of their financial problems, drug and crime surroundings, or difficulties in the language skills, their desire to triumph fuels their persistence. Those who make it to success are the few living examples of the purest form of hero anyone can be. They are not only their own heroes but also the heroes of the poor children who dream of becoming like them someday.
Heroism is defined as an act of courage and an act of selflessness. They reflect the highest levels of morality in society. Heroes have embodied the morality codes of civilizations throughout the ages. When heroes display courage, observers often identify with that courage. The refusal to take the easy way out and the ability to act in spite of fear, is what makes a person a hero. This is the way everyone wishes to react in the midst of a crisis. As witnessed in literature and real life, mankind needs heroes to provide an inspirational role model, an escape from the mundane, and a guide for morality.
Many of the heroic acts done by heroes end up either dying or wound from the hazard event that the hero took place in. Every act of heroism plays a significant part to the society because it adds to the quality of each person in humanity and as a whole. Also, the acts of heroism are always inspiring and remembered due to their courageous actions and selflessness. Works Cited The Children’s March. Dir.