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Heroism definition essay
Characteristics of a real hero
Characteristics of hero
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Chris Kyle is a Hero
Would you ever sacrifice yourself for your country if you had the chance? I don’t know about you but Chris Kyle would. Chris Kyle would because he’s courageous, selfless and above that he’s admired by many people. Now look I’m no dictionary however if these aren’t the characteristics of a hero, then I don’t know what is.
One of Chris Kyle’s many heroic abilities is his courageousness. It’s one of his many attributes because he had strength in the fear of pain and death. For example from the article “American Sniper: Was Chris Kyle really a hero” by BBC News it states that “Unsurpassed courage under fire while conducting sniper operations in support of [redacted] during the siege of Fallujah. His display of unparalleled
bravery and skill as a sniper contributed significantly to the success of this strategic victory over the insurgents while reducing the risk of harm to coalition troops.” This shows that Chris Kyle didn’t just go to Iraq because he wanted to kill people, he went too keep his country free. Now that is definitely courageous. Do you know what selflessness means? If you don’t then take an example from someone. For instance Chris Kyle. Chris Kyle is selfless because not only did he risk his life saving our country, he also lost most of his youth years serving. For example he started serving the Navy in 1999. He was 25. In the article “Two Chris Kyle Stories You Won’t See In American Sniper”, it states “His dedication to his fellow American troops was intense and overpowering. On several well-documented occasions, he deliberately put his life in grave danger to save other Americans. Protecting American lives, he told me, was his driving force”. This shows evidence that Chris Kyle risked his life for not only his friend’s in the Navy, also for the people who live in The United States of America.
Although not every hero shouts “Avengers Assemble” before a worthy deed, heroism is shown in all aspects of the everyday world. Webster Dictionary has exactly 5 definitions under the word hero and still no two people explain heroism the same. Superman and Captain America are a glimpse of the fictional characters society titles a hero. Firefighters and Military portray heroism each day in the lives of every civilian. As Sullivan and Venter stated “individuals are referred to as ‘heroes’ for seemingly different reasons” and even through endless studies the adjectives referring heroes is ever changing. Among the various ideas of what it means to be a hero, boldness and valiance capture the essence of heroism.
In past history, heroes come in many different facets of life. The military has produced many of these heroes. Chris Kyle a United States Navy SEAL was one of those heroes. Chris grew up in various locations in Texas. His father worked for AT&T as a manager and they moved around frequently. Chris loved to fight as he stated “Somewhere along the way, I started sticking up for younger kids who were being picked on. I felt I had to look out for them. It became my duty. Maybe it began because I was looking for an excuse to fight without getting in trouble” (American Sniper, Chris Kyle, 21).
Chris McCandless always wanted to live on his own and in the wild, however that would soon become a mistake. In the novel Into The Wild the main character, Chris McCandless, hitchhiked to Alaska. He had given $25,000 to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Chris McCandless was influenced by many literary heroes, but the three that influenced him the most were Jack London, Henry David Thoreau, and Leo Tolstoy. Chris was influenced by these heroes in many ways, and they changed his life forever .
The word "hero" is so often used to describe people who overcome great difficulties and rise to the challenge that is set before them without even considering the overwhelming odds they are up against. In our culture, heroes are glorified in literature and in the media in various shapes and forms. However, I believe that many of the greatest heroes in our society never receive the credit that they deserve, much less fame or publicity. I believe that a hero is simply someone who stands up for what he/she believes in. A person does not have to rush into a burning building and save someone's life to be a hero. Someone who is a true friend can be a hero. A hero is someone who makes a difference in the lives of others simply by his/her presence. In Tim O'Brien's novel, The Things They Carried, the true heroes stand out in my mind as those who were true friends and fought for what they believed in. These men and women faced the atrocities of war on a daily basis, as explained by critic David R. Jarraway's essay, "'Excremental Assault' in Tim O'Brien: Trauma and Recovery in Vietnam War Literature" and by Vietnam Veteran Jim Carter. Yet these characters became heroes not by going to drastic measures to do something that would draw attention to themselves, but by being true to their own beliefs and by making a difference to the people around them.
Into the Wild, written by John Krakauer tells of a young man named Chris McCandless who 1deserted his college degree and all his worldly possessions in favor of a primitive transient life in the wilderness. Krakauer first told the story of Chris in an article in Outside Magazine, but went on to write a thorough book, which encompasses his life in the hopes to explain what caused him to venture off alone into the wild. McCandless’ story soon became a national phenomenon, and had many people questioning why a “young man from a well-to-do East Coast family [would] hitchhike to Alaska” (Krakauer i). Chris comes from an affluent household and has parents that strived to create a desirable life for him and his sister. As Chris grows up, he becomes more and more disturbed by society’s ideals and the control they have on everyday life. He made a point of spiting his parents and the lifestyle they lived. This sense of unhappiness continues to build until after Chris has graduated college and decided to leave everything behind for the Alaskan wilderness. Knowing very little about how to survive in the wild, Chris ventures off on his adventure in a state of naïveté. It is obvious that he possessed monumental potential that was wasted on romanticized ideals and a lack of wisdom. Christopher McCandless is a unique and talented young man, but his selfish and ultimately complacent attitude towards life and his successes led to his demise.
Chris McCandless has left a legacy and a lesson after dying on his excursion into the brutal Alaskan wilderness. Some people claim that he is a hero and that he left a good message for spirits who crave freedom and peace with nature. But others believe that he is no hero at all; but in fact, a dumb young kid with no sense of gratitude and a plan for failure. I think that Chris not only failed to execute any heroic actions at all, but he had anti heroic qualities and beliefs. McCandless is not a hero because ran away from and let down friends and family to travel blindly into danger with no plan or preparation whatsoever.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Being a hero doesn’t mean your invincible. It just means you’re brave enough to stand up and do what’s needed. In the historical fiction novel, “Crispin: The Cross of Lead” by Avi, 13 year old Crispin who is now an orphan after the death of his mother is forced to flee his village after being accused of stealing and is to be killed. He comes across a man who helps him along his quest and faces many overwhelming challenges. Its not until he made the decision to risk his own life to benefit the life of another that he then shows an act of true heroism.
Many people have different views on the death of Chris McCandless and the actions he did that lead to his death. Some say McCandless is a legend as a result of people are still talking about him today. Others look at the whole McCandless story and just think, wow this kid must have been stupid. There are many people who countless views about McCandless, going out into the Alaskan Frontier ill prepared wouldn’t be my idea of a good time.
Who is a hero? In contemporary times, usage of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has become representative of a wide variety of individuals, each possessing differing traits. Some of the answers put forth by my colleagues (during our in-class discussion on heroism) as to whom they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers and family members. Although the occupations differed, each of their heroes bore qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, whether morally or physically. Nonetheless, Webster’s defines “hero” as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Thus, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes relative to the situation with which they’re faced.
In this essay I have only shown three, but there are so many more and the traits of a hero are not only restricted to people who save lives, chase bad guys, or change the world. He overcame constant pressures with his determination, led a whole team with his outstanding leadership, and never gave up thanks to his passion. He is a hero to many, no cape, or superpowers needed. So now it’s up to you, is he, or is he not, a
Being a hero means to be willing to risk your life for others. Such as, Pat Tillman. Pat Tillman was a fantastic football player and he loved playing it too. Despite that, Pat Tillman turned down a 3.6million dollar contract to the Arizona Cardinals to go fight the war against terrorism. He ended up dieing from friendly fire. All this goes to show how brave Pat Tillman was to risk his life and give up his football career to go fight in Afghanistan to help protect the American people. Likewise, the people that helped evacuate New York City after the
Heroes are found everywhere in the world. They are seen in movies, on television, in books, and in reality. A hero can be anyone, from a friend to a fictional character. To be considered a hero, one must make selfless sacrifices, develop and learn, overcome challenges and temptations, and ultimately present their known world with a gift of any kind. Homer’s
When I think of a hero I immediately think of someone who is strong, intelligent, handsome, and daring. Upon closer examination, many different qualities than these become apparent. Courage, honesty, bravery, selflessness, and the will to try are just a few of the overlooked qualities of a hero. The definition of heroism changes with the context and time. Heroes of the past are not necessarily heroes of present time and vise versa.
be considered a hero must be naturally good and work for good and be there when
“Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves.”- Carol Lynn Pearson. Heroes have many different qualities depending upon the person you believe is a hero in your eyes. A Hero’s qualities could be being Brave, Trustworthy, Loving, a Leader, Intelligent, and Kind. Now those are just some common characteristics to “make” or to “be” a hero. Some heroes to others could be in their family, their friends, or even famous people that have passed or are still alive.