The definition of a ‘tragic hero’ is “a character with a fatal flaw that ultimately leads to his or her own ruin.” Lance Armstrong, a professional cyclist who raced from 1989 to 2011, was not only a tragic hero but he was also known as the saviour of cycling. He not only survived stage IV testicular cancer but he came back to win the most prestigious cycling event on the planet, the Tour de France. He did this not once but seven times consecutively. He also established the ‘Lance Armstrong Foundation’, now known as the ‘LIVESTRONG Foundation’ a charitable organisation which raised millions of dollars to provide support for people with cancer. He was a global superstar but tragically it was all a lie as Armstrong was illegally using performance enhancing drugs. In 2012 Lance was banned for life. He was stripped of his seven Tour de France victories as well as all other placings since 1998. He was known as a champion, an icon, now he is known as a disgrace to sport. But what makes him different to so many other riders in that era? Nine of the last …show more content…
Lance was an inspiration to all cancer survivors, he proved that having cancer does not limit you. His cancer survival story was an inspiration to many and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, now the LIVESTRONG Foundation has raised over $580 million for the fight against cancer. Eighty million LIVESTRONG wristbands had been sold but since Lance’s lifetime ban, CNN reported that people were crossing out the V in LIVESTRONG so it said LIE STRONG. Tragically, many cancer survivors as well as others feel betrayed by what he did. Charles Pelkey, a journalist says “…I spent time thinking about the cynical exploitation of a disease suffered by millions around the globe, by a man who used what could otherwise be deemed ‘good works’ as a shield to distract the inquisitive from raising questions about his flawed
A tragic hero is an individual who possesses a fatal flaw in their character that will bring about their own destruction or suffering. Aristotle believed that “A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall. (Aristotle #1)” This Ancient Greek philosopher also believed that each tragic hero has four characteristics. The first of these characteristics is that a tragic hero is born with either wisdom or high integrity, and in some cases both.
People trust doctors to save lives. Everyday millions of Americans swallow pills prescribed by doctors to alleviate painful symptoms of conditions they may have. Others entrust their lives to doctors, with full trust that the doctors have the patient’s best interests in mind. In cases such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, the Crownsville Hospital of the Negro Insane, and Joseph Mengele’s Research, doctors did not take care of the patients but instead focused on their self-interest. Rebecca Skloot, in her contemporary nonfiction novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, uses logos to reveal corruption in the medical field in order to protect individuals in the future.
Terry knew that aches and pains are common in athlete’s lives. At the end of his first year of university there was a new pain in his knee. One morning Terry woke up to see that he could no longer stand up. A week later Terry found out that it was not just an ache he had a malignant tumor; his leg would have to be cut off six inches above the knee. Terry’s doctor told him that he had a chance of living but the odds were fifty to seventy percent. He also said that he should be glad it happened now fore just 2 years ago the chance of living was fifteen percent. The night before his operation a former coach brought Terry a magazine featuring a man who ran a marathon after a similar operation. Terry didn’t want to do something small if he was going to do something he was going to do it big. "I am competitive" Terry said, "I’m a dreamer. I like challenges. I don’t give up. When I decided to do it, I knew it was going to be all out. There was no in between Terry’s sixteen month follow up he saw all the young people suffering and getting weak by the disease. He never forgot what he saw and felt burdened to thoughts that died to run this marathon. He was one of the lucky one in three people to survive in the cancer clinics. Terry wrote asking for sponsorship " I could not leave knowing that these faces and feelings would still be here even though I would be set free of mine, s...
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.
Farmer’s amazing outlook exemplifies this highly ethical characteristic of being a hero. In the biography, “Mountains Beyond Mountains,” It is made clear that he believes that it is still imperative that we always do what we can to at least attempt to save, or improve, lives. “In his mind, he was fighting all poverty all the time, an endeavor full of difficulties and inevitable failures.” (Singer, 210) Paul Farmer’s devotion to people in need is extremely admirable and is an ethical trait that he exhibits in all aspects of his life, but we can’t all be as saint like as Paul Farmer. As a Harvard doctor, Paul Farmer is, in a way, more capable of saving lives with the use of medical care than most people are. A simple and small contribution such as $200, or the equivalent to the cost of a pair of shoes, is much less effective than a direct contribution of highly expensive medical supplies and supplements. Singer’s analogy does not succeed in showing that the shallow pond case and the charity case are ethically similar, because the two scenarios have unequal costs, impacts, and outcomes. Not all charities are truly life-saving, but pulling a child out of a pond and into safety is. Although we should all do what we can to help others and essentially “cure the world,” we cannot judge one’s ethical character poorly if they do not donate
“All the best heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary.” This quote by Gerard Way directly describes a little old man. A man who fought to survive and get his withered body moving. A teacher to many, friend to some, and a coach to a very special former student, Mitch. This old man is Morrie Schwartz, a heroic patient of ALS. Loving others no matter what, being ordinary instead of extraordinary, and taking death on straight in the eye makes Morrie a hero.
What defines a hero? Is it the amount of courage and individual has that makes them a hero? Could a person become known as a hero simply from their achievement? Are noble qualities required of a person that is considered to be hero? The definition of a hero lies in the eye of the beholder. In my eyes, Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams displayed amazing courage, accomplished outstanding achievements, and had noble qualities, and that is why I believe that Hershel “Woody” Williams was a true hero.
Although ordinary people, extraordinary people, and even those who are seemingly god-like all go through trials and tribulations pursuing wisdom, bravery, and legacy, the heroes amongst us may fall, but they will never be forgotten.
The Hero’s Journey is a pattern of narrative that appears in novels, storytelling, myth, and religious ritual. It was first identified by the American scholar Joseph Campbell in his book A Hero with Thousand Faces. Campbell also discussed this pattern in his interview to Bill Moyers which was later published as a book The Power of Myths. This pattern describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds. Campbell detailed many stages in the Hero’s Journey, but he also summarized the pattern in three fundamental phases: Separation, Ordeal, and Return that all heroes, in spite of their sex, age, culture, or religion, have to overcome in order to reach the goal. Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll, provides a good example of the Hero's Journey. This story describes the adventures of Alice, a young English girl, in Wonderland. Although she lacks some of the stages identified by Campbell, she still possesses many of them that are necessary for a Hero to be considered a Hero.
The word "hero" is so often used to describe people who overcome great difficulties and rise to the challenge that is set before them without even considering the overwhelming odds they are up against. In our culture, heroes are glorified in literature and in the media in various shapes and forms. However, I believe that many of the greatest heroes in our society never receive the credit that they deserve, much less fame or publicity. I believe that a hero is simply someone who stands up for what he/she believes in. A person does not have to rush into a burning building and save someone's life to be a hero. Someone who is a true friend can be a hero. A hero is someone who makes a difference in the lives of others simply by his/her presence. In Tim O'Brien's novel, The Things They Carried, the true heroes stand out in my mind as those who were true friends and fought for what they believed in. These men and women faced the atrocities of war on a daily basis, as explained by critic David R. Jarraway's essay, "'Excremental Assault' in Tim O'Brien: Trauma and Recovery in Vietnam War Literature" and by Vietnam Veteran Jim Carter. Yet these characters became heroes not by going to drastic measures to do something that would draw attention to themselves, but by being true to their own beliefs and by making a difference to the people around them.
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
A hero is someone who goes on a life journey that is a quest for self-awareness and self-development. Published criticisms of Kesey’s protagonist, R.P. McMurphy, argue that his character is crazy and dangerous; I partially disagree disagree because McMurphy is also adventurous and has a good intention in what he does. McMurphy has a life journey that could consider him as heroic. McMurphy’s journey starts off with him working on a farm then he gets sent to a mental institute. During his time at the mental institute he meets new friends and his mentor, Chief. He also meets his enemy, Nurse Ratched who causes him setbacks. His friends helps him overcome these obstacles. McMurphy became a leader for the other patients at the hospital because he
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.
A tragic hero can be defined by several different factors; the hero usually has a major flaw that prevents him from seeing the truth that lies in front of him, which contributes to the character’s peripeteia due to mistaken judgement. This mistake then leads to achieving anagnorisis, usually at the end of the play, but is too late to change anything, and results in death.
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.