Analysis Of Scott Labarge's Heroism: Why Heroes Are Important

Scott LaBarge's article, "Heroism: Why Heroes are Important," LaBarge explains that the qualifications for one to define a hero are blurry, not everyone sees eye to eye. LaBarge helps clarify that the term “hero” is lost in translation, meaning that people have different definitions; is confused with idols, regular pop stars, and superheroes; and is not given to worthy beings, people think a “hero” is supposed to be perfect. These things are clarified by the use of definition, exemplification, ethos, and logos. Labarge completely changes the way one thinks about the word hero.

In particular, Labarge starts off with a bang in his article; he talks about the term, “hero”, and its definition. The term “hero” can get lost in translation between

Many people nowadays will say celebrities and singers are their heroes. They will say this not because they feel like their “hero” has, as LaBarge puts it, “done something beyond the normal scope of human experience,” (1) but because they idolize being them. Scott LaBarge uses logic and states, “Today, it is much harder to detach the concept of heroism from morality; we only call heroes those whom we admire and wish to emulate,” (1) this quote completely confirms the idea that people may not understand the meaning of “hero”.

Another reason LaBarge says people do not understand the meaning of the term “hero”, is because people want to believe a hero is perfect, that isn’t always the case. LaBarge shares one of his personal heroes, using ethos as a way to persuade his audience, and even admits to his hero not being perfect, “Thoreau had his share of blemishes. For instance, although he was supposed to be living totally independently out by Walden Pond, he went home to Mother on the weekends,” (3). Many people may be hesitant to pick a certain person as their hero because they think a hero should be