The Characteristics Of Heroism In 'O Captain ! My Captain'

“So there you go- heroes are everyday, common people. Most of what they do goes unheralded, unappreciated. And that, ironically, is heroism: not to be recognized” (Stone 4). Being a hero means doing what is right and pushing on even if they are not acknowledged for it. Heroes are people who stand up for their beliefs and let their actions speak louder than their words. A hero, like everyone else, is an ordinary person who will get tired and feel the weight of a challenge when life throws one at them. Heroes have to be able to push through in order to come out on top and not give up when the challenge gets too tough. A hero will push toward a goal they have set and will do anything they have to do in order for their goal to be reached, even

A hero is selfless when they make sure someone that they love has something that they might need or want even if it is at the expense of their own personal needs or wants. A hero puts others before them and does not expect anything in return. They try to make the world a better place even if it might personally affect them in some way. Towards the end of the poem, O Captain! My Captain!, Abraham Lincoln demonstrates selflessness when the text states, “Rise up- for you the flag is flung- for you the bugle trills… The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done: From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won” (Whitman). In the poem, the captain represents Abraham Lincoln, the trip represents the war to end slavery, and the ship represents America. Abraham Lincoln had believed all people deserve their freedom. Abraham Lincoln had spoken out against slavery, which had been a popular disagreement between the north and the south back then, and it had cost him his life. Just because a hero is selfless, does not mean the hero will let other people take advantage of that or try too hard to please

A hero is not perfect and just like other people have flaws. A hero will not always be able to save the day and might be bombarded or be demanded to be pushed past their limit. However, hero’s job is not to please people, but to help them. A hero is never too eager to please and does not let it get to them when someone is not pleased with their efforts. In the end of the autobiography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Frederick Douglass demonstrates this heroic characteristic when the text states, “on the 11th of August, 1841, I felt strongly moved to speak, and was at the same time much urged to do so by Mr. William C. Collin, a gentleman who had heard me speak in the colored people’s meeting at New Bedford. It was a severe cross, and I took it up reluctantly” (Douglass). Frederick Douglass had been a slave who had escaped and had spoken out about slavery. Even though Frederick Douglass had become free and was well liked, he still felt nervous to speak about slavery out loud. Even though a hero does not let people get to them and stands up for what is right, does not mean that they do not get