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Truth beneath a Hero
Aladdin, Hercules, Mr. Incredible and Tarzan are all famous Disney heroes who children adore. They share many common traits, like strength, and all embark on magnificent adventures. However, heroes emerge in a wide variety of stories, from modern Disney movies to classic literature. Ingmar Bergman’s character Antonius Block, from The Seventh Seal, and Ernest Hemingway’s Santiago, from The Old Man and the Sea, are typical romance heroes who have both similarities and differences, revealed through their goals, superiority, and assistance in their journeys. Antonius is a knight, recently returning home from the traumatizing crusades. Santiago is an old fisherman, who has been unlucky in his work. These men both experience life changing events and are certainly deemed heroes in many ways by the end of their quests.
These two heroes are similar because they each learn something significant, despite being unable to achieve their original goals. In The Seventh Seal, Antonius returns from the crusades and plays chess with the character, Death. His superficial goal throughout the film is simply to win the chess match, thus avoiding his own physical death by his opponent. Unfortunately, Antonius loses and Death does kill him, as well as his friends. Yet by the time this occurs, Antonius is able to discover many things about himself and life in general. For example, while sitting with the joyous, peaceful family of Jof, Mia and son Mikael, he decides, “Everything I’ve said seems meaningless and unreal […]. How unimportant it all becomes suddenly” (91). Antonius realizes that life is full of much more than just death and terror as he has seen in the crusades. He discovers that he can truly live his life simply and ca...
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...nd. The sun acts as a healer to Santiago both physically and mentally. By healing his hand, the sun also calms Santiago’s mind because he can now focus on the tasks ahead of him. Both Antonius and Santiago show that whether it is a divine power, nature, or even a sidekick, many heroes require some kind of assistance.
Heroes are characterized by their personality, choices and goals. The most adored fictional heroes often have some super power that is completely unrealistic in the real world. Mr. Incredible and Hercules are not great representations of the kind of people one hears about in the news. It is heroes like Santiago and even Antonius that people today can more easily relate to. Every person has his or her own hero who is an inspiration. From famous actors or singers to close family members, the truth beneath all heroes is simply their goodness at heart.
As the story comes to its conclusion, the hero has endured his hardships; he went from the one that started fights to the one that thought of what could make everything work. An ordinary person in an ordinary world faced his share of trials and tribulations to come out as a new person. Defining the hero myth—he struggled and still was able to triumph to his prize at the end ; individuals relish these type of stories, they can
When someone is characterized as a hero they are often someone, who is very selfless, brave and is of distinguished valor. They challenge people to some how or another follow in their footsteps, and are often models to our society. Often inspiring and showing them that no matter what they should reach for the stars. Hero's strive to find the best in people and not just in them.
Every generation has its own heroes that display, what they believe to be, ideal characteristics. While each is different in their own way, many of these role models share similar qualities. Most tend to have courage, strength, compassion, or another respected trait, but this is not necessarily why they win the adoration of their followers.
Heroes, the unordinary beings with extravagant abilities, from powers and competence to skills and talents. Heroes are people who are idealized by society for their courage and individuality. Iconic and well recognized heroes like Hercules, Superman, Spiderman and Achilles are some of the few heroes known around. All heroes have a similarity to each other, for example Beowulf and Batman. While both can be considered great heroes, they differ significantly, yet are similar in other ways.
Loewen defines heroification as “a degenerative process (much like calcification) that makes people over into heroes” (Loewen 11). During this process, negative or controversial facts are often ignored or altered in regards to these heroes, which create “perfect creatures without conflicts, pain, credibility, or human interest (Loewen 11). When one changes or omits facts concerning figures in history for this type of glorification, we are left with an invented story of the event or person; in other words, history has become a myth. History textbooks are filled with these types of glorifications, especially older texts. The purpose of heroification is to present events or people in a favorable light and to give ideal role models in which to follow. In my own words, I call Loewen’s heroification an effective form of brainwashing. For example, I was always taught that the Civil War was fought to free slaves, but later learned this war was about states succeeding from the Union. Many people still believe the Emancipation Proclamation’s purpose was to free the slaves; however, it was actually the last resort Lincoln used to win the Civil War. Of course, this is not how these events were portrayed to most of us in History class. Heroification alters the purpose of these events so that we, as citizens, can feel proud that America did away with slavery because our forefathers felt it was morally wrong. Loewen also points out how heroification can lead to role models in the case of Helen Keller, “the blind and deaf girl who overcame her physical handicaps, as an inspiration to generations of schoolchildren” (Loewen 12). The problem with Keller being used as an exemplary model for American schoolchildren is that only her early life is portr...
What images are associated with the words “hero”? A muscular Hercules saving the world from Hades? A knight in shining armor bravely riding into combat? Words like bravery, strength, pride, and self-sacrifice are commonly connected with a classic hero. But are those the only characteristics that make someone heroic? A dictionary definition of a hero is “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities”; however, this is a very elastic definition and there are many other types and definitions of heroes depending on circumstances. Is there one that is correct? Do all heroes share any common characteristics? According to Orin E. Klapp, a hero is “a person, real or imaginary, who evokes the appropriate attitudes and behavior” (135). Heroes can be determined by, and change due to and by societal norms, but at the same time retain certain traits or perform common actions. Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, the legendary British thief Robin Hood, and Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter series all demonstrate that understanding who a hero is involves understanding the situation, his or her actions, as well as the society to which the hero is presented..
“The journey of the hero is about the courage to seek the depths; the image of creative rebirth; the eternal cycle of change within us; the uncanny discovery that the seeker is the mystery which the seeker seeks to know. The hero journey is a symbol that binds, in the original sense of the word, two distant ideas, and the spiritual quest of the ancients with the modern search for identity always the one, shape-shifting yet marvelously constant story that we find.” (Phil Cousineau) The Hero's Journey has been engaged in stories for an immemorial amount of time. These stories target typical connections that help us relate to ourselves as well as the “real world”.
Throughout history, there have always been heroes. Those strong-willed, brave individuals who perform courageous acts for fame and glory are prevalent in most cultures.. Societies have these heroes as standards of their cultures’ moral codes. Every society has their own definition of these codes are, so a unifying definition of hero can be hard to achieve. However, Philip Zimbardo says “Simply put, then, the key to heroism is a concern for other people in need—a concern to defend a moral cause, knowing there is a personal risk, done without expectation of reward.” With this basic definition, I will be examining various epic heroes I’ve studied throughout the course of my senior year for characteristics. From the copious amounts of studying, I’ve deduced that Achilles, Odysseus, Aeneas, Socrates, Gilgamesh, Beowulf, and Arthur all have characteristics that make them heroic.
Heroes are common in the world today. They are among our everyday people, but are not always noticeable. In the passage “Where I Find My Heroes”, Oliver Stone states his meaning of heroism,”I think the meaning of heroism has a lot to do with evolving into a higher human being”. (Stone 63) In other words, not all heroes have to have superpowers or fly or breathe fire like dragons. The real world is filled with heroes from everyday life. For example; soldiers, police, firefighters, etc. are our everyday heroes. Although everyone has their own definition of a hero, our common heroes deserve just as much praise as Superman or Batman. Soldiers fight for our country and sacrifice their lives to keep us safe. I would say that is pretty heroic. Likewise, police officers stop crime and get criminals off the streets everyday and put their life on the line to bring some sort of peace to our communities. Heroes are everyday common people. If you stop and think what life would be like
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 are many people who influence our lives over time, but fewer mean more than the individuals hero. Growing up, my friends and I would idolize star athletes and movie stars, simply because we wanted to be one of them. As time passed and I grew older, I found out what a real hero was. My father seemed to fit that title well. My father has every quality necessary for that of a heroic individual. From teaching me how to play sports, to teaching me the ropes of being a man, he has had an impact on every part of my life. I believe that a hero is someone who can have a great amount of influence on a person or society as a whole.
Movies have evolved a great deal since the days when a couple fighting scenes and a small love story satisfied audiences. Today movie plots are much more complicated and have much more action, thanks to modern day technologies. Although these new technologies seem to make movies increasingly complicated, some crucial roles in movies will never change. One thing that has remained constant in the film industry is the role of the hero. No matter what the genera of the film and or when the film was made the hero’s always share similar characteristics and are put through similar series of tests to prove their heroism. When these tests are completed it seems to pull everything together in their films. Although the hero Shane in the movie Shane and the hero Ripley in the movie Aliens are from two separate generas and are also from separate time periods, the hero’s in each movie share characteristics and are put through similar tests that make them, in theory, one in the same. Heroic characteristics start to become evident right from the start of each of the movies.
Ernest Hemingway has the tendency to use his heroes in some unheroic ways. At first the hero may seem obvious, but later on it is discovered that the true hero is not who it seems to be. In A Farewell to Arms Hemingway uses the true hero to guide the main character into becoming a hero, but fails miserably.
Fighting for his power and for a better future, Santiago held strong using what he had to win his battles. “I wish I had a stone for the knife,” the old man said after he had checked the lashing on the oar butt. “I should have brought a stone.” You should have brought many things, he thought. But you did not bring them, old man. Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” (Hemingway 31) If Santiago had given up, letting the fish and everything else, which fought against him, win, he would have been defeated. However, he did not return defeated, despite what he had gone through, Santiago used what he had endured to make him stronger. Learning a valuable lesson, through his time alone out in the boat, Santiago went back to his home knowing just how much he needed Manolin. Santiago proved his strength while opening up his eyes to his own weaknesses. Coming back after the fight of his life, with his fish eaten away by sharks, and all his strength gone, Santiago was clearly destroyed, yet he had gained more than he could have ever imagined. “They beat me, Manolin,” he said. “They truly beat me.” “He didn’t beat you. Not the fish.”… “Now we fish together again.”… “I’ll bring the food and the papers,” the boy said. “Rest well, old man. I will bring stuff from the drugstore for your hands.” (Hemingway 35) Instead of becoming defeated, Santiago demonstrated his resilient character and gained a hope for his future with Manolin by his side.
A person can be a hero for saving the life of one or of millions. Heroes are not only real people, but they are also fantasy figures. Children are extremely interested with legendary and fantasy figures because they take on such tasks as: difficult journeys, challenges with dragons, discovering lost treasure, and changing the nature of the world through their singular acts of courage and selflessness. They also endure much resistance, hardship, and danger. Often the hero learns valuable lessons about survival and self-reliance. Not only do heroes teach valuable lessons they give a child a sense of belonging. To a child, a hero is an invincible person who will change the world.