Compare And Contrast Superman And Achilles

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Recommended: Traits of an epic hero essay

Louis Murphy
Mrs. Shymanski
CP English 12 3rd Period
20 May 2016
Son of Krypton and the Warrior of Greece The superhuman from the planet Krypton and the superhuman from Greece on Earth have quite a lot in common and a few things, not so much. The stories of Superman and Achilles originate from totally different times and from different geographical locations on Earth but perhaps some ideas that came to create Superman, a much more modern character than Achilles, were derived from Achilles and his story. The two heroes share similar vulnerabilities and characteristic traits but a majority of the weapons they use while in the midst of a battle are quite different. Many individuals consider a flaw they have as being their “Kryptonite” …show more content…

Heroes that bring justice about primarily through physical interactions against their opponent or opponents. Of course, “bringing justice about” is a sheer matter of perspective for in Achilles’ situation deciding whether or not the Greeks or the Trojans were the “good guys” is not really possible. Superman simply imprisons or vanquishes those who try to impede on the daily life of the human race, and since the Earth is the home of the human race, those invading it are the “bad guys.” However, the ways in which Achilles and Superman bring about this said justice varies quite a lot. The two of them are invulnerable, aside from Achilles’ heel and Superman’s vulnerability to the radioactive element, Kryptonite, and they also both have superhuman strength. The other abilities they have in the art of battle are what vary significantly. For example, Achilles uses a sword, a shield, and a spear in his battles. He is pretty much an ordinary human in this sense, for they are the same weapons his friends and foes use against him and each …show more content…

Achilles fights from day one for many weeks for the Greek army against the Trojans, showing undying loyalty. However, when his military commander in the Trojan War makes an error in capturing a priest of the Greek God Apollo’s daughter, Achilles does not fight for the Greek army for quite some time until his commander gives the priest his daughter back (McDougal Littell). Superman does not really answer to anyone as Achilles does to his military commander but surely Superman would make a similar decision if he were in Achilles’

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