Superman is America’s Hero

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Superman is one of the greatest superheroes to have ever lived. Since Superman’s creation he has been America’s Man of Steel for around seventy-five years. However, the awesome character was created by two not so super, high school teenagers, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, which ultimately shows, throughout Superman’s life in a comic book, anyone can be anything if they just put their mind to it. Superman has fought America’s battles with his all-powerful strength and unbiased view of people; most importantly, the man never gives up. Based on the criteria identified by Jencks who states, “Not only does a rhetorical object express the values…ideologies, hopes, fears, religion, [and] social structure” (qtd. In Burchardt 608), Superman is clearly an example of a rhetorical object.
Superman’s strength is absolutely amazing. The Man of Steel can fling cars around Metropolis, lift buildings with one hand, turn back time through flight, and stop bullets with his two eyes. He can do all of this while keeping a love affair with Lois Lane, who is unaware that the two men in her life are one. By far, Superman’s most impressive ability is to fly; the man can jump in the air and soar to save the world. He would shout, “Up, up, and away!” (Superman), as he flew to rescue someone in need of help. Superman could have taken over the world in one day and become a super-villain by using his powers for greed. Instead he fought the selfishness of Lex Luthor who was driven by his lust for money. Superman could have turned his back on America and watch the world turn to rubble if he did not save anyone. Maybe Superman did not turn selfish and violent because he felt that he was just like everyone else in America, minus the super-natural powers. The car...

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...rt his fans.
Based on the criteria identified by Jencks who states, “Not only does a rhetorical object express the values…ideologies, hopes, fears, religion, [and] social structure” (qtd. In Burchardt 608). Superman has been proved to clearly be a proper example of a rhetorical object. Superman helped America fight its own battles while he fought his. He is an immigrant who found love and made something out of himself. The cartoon savior gives the world a hero, someone to look up too, and push to be virtuous and caring. Superman is a volunteer to help, while asking for nothing in return but for America to hopefully pass the help forward.

Works Cited
Burgchardt, Carl. Readings in Rhetorical Criticism. 3rd ed. State College: Strata Publishing, 2005. Print.
Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman. Dir. Kevin Burns. Warner Home Video, Inc., 2006. DVD.

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