Arnold Schwarzenegger: A Brief Biography

1238 Words3 Pages

According to Arnold Schwarzenegger, “the worst thing I can be is the same as everybody else. I hate that.” Throughout his career, Arnold has strived to be anything but someone else. It is important to note that his “career” can be defined as many different things. He cannot be defined as one single person, but rather a combination of a few personalities. All of his alter ego’s shape him as he is today; all alter egos are real- all reflecting some part of him internally. From bodybuilder to blockbuster action star to comedy king to politician, Arnold is a fine example of a young Austrian boy who has courageously followed his every dream. Although he is mostly himself as a family man, he is able to portray his different sides through his bodybuilding and acting career.
We are led to believe that who Arnold really is a friendly, supportive, and determined man. Many of the people that would work with him said that is just how he was brought up, raised by his mother, Aurelia Schwarzenegger. On the subject of Arnold’s autobiography, Janet Maslin says, “The book begins with the obligatory description of his Austrian childhood and says that he and his brother were forced to do sit-ups to earn their breakfast. He also explains how the bodybuilder photos he pinned up in his room made his mother seek a doctor’s advice…” (Maslin). This is Arnold explicitly stating he got his determination and strength from how he was raised. So, it can be said that all of Arnold’s alter egos are made possible due to his characteristics, whether they are within him or shown externally. He does not need alter egos because he doesn’t feel comfortable in his own skin, he has alter egos simply because they are a result of his hard work. The names he goes by are no...

... middle of paper ...

... anything but the same as anybody else. His success with bodybuilding is largely accredited to his want to win, and the recognition from this brought him to where he was as an actor. The attention and praise he received from acting sparked his ambition to be a political figure, and with his determination, landed the title as Governor of California. The purpose of Arnold’s alter ego is to have an outlet for his real self. In other words, these alter egos are just a maximized version of himself. He has nothing to hide, rather needs an outlet for all the personalities he has within. Arnold Schwarzenegger proves to all that determination and ambition are two traits imperative to being the best version of yourself you can be.

Works Cited

Schwarzenegger, Arnold, and Peter Petre. Total Recall: my unbelievably true life story. Los Angeles: Simon & Schuster, 2013. Print.

Open Document