There you look at our wonderful heroes, astonished by their accomplishments, wondering how such perfect people can exist in this world. But the actual truth about heroes will certainly surprise you. Sure, if you examine heroic figures like Albert Einstein on the outside, you might conclude that they have some imperfections; flyaway hair perhaps. But then, behind that outer shell of theirs, sits something incredible; something powerful, something indescribable, something that makes them flawed. But yet again, you do not know what these flaws are since you have been prolonged exposed to the idea of ‘perfect heroes’. Also, in Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey Archetype” there is a step inside the initiation which specifically describes that …show more content…
heroes are flawed and can’t overcome every task that is thrown in their direction.This step is the road of trials. Thus supporting that all kinds of heroes are not perfect. Until now, society has disclosed that all heroes are perfect gods, which is true in some cases; but most of the time, that’s simply not the case. Society is littered with figures that are pronounced noble and wise, and everyone treats them as gods; Abraham Lincoln is one such example, but the stunning truth is that he, and everybody else is flawed. Our society is not amiss when it comes to the fact of Lincoln possessing interesting traits, “...was generous and willing to try to understand other points of view ”.(Newsela). As you are able to uncover, society was indeed, not wrong when it came to informing Lincoln’s amazing trait of wiseness. Lincoln’s idea of listening to other ideas strongly supports his wiseness. In addition, if you examine carefully, you can locate a lot heroes, from fictional or in real life that portray this trait the same way as Lincoln did; basically being open to other people’s ideas. Once again, going back to Lincoln, we can also uncover another trait to go with his wiseness; “He had to struggle for a living, and to find the time to read and study” (Newsela). Although this one is tricky, the fact that he was able to promote himself from struggling to survive, to defending the nation as a whole, is obviously a reason to respectfully honor him. Admitting that we’ve only discussed the positive side of Lincoln, let us transition to him being a flaw filled human, “Lincoln was willing to use force to keep the nation united” (Newsela). Now, let me state, is using force to solve a conflict the best answer? No, it’s not, but this what Lincoln decided to choose. If Lincoln was perfect, he would of came of up with an ingenious idea to keep the nation together and with that idea, he would of saved thousands of innocent lives. But then he didn’t, he is flawed. Likewise, every other hero also has fundamental flaws woven into them. They will make mistakes, some may be small and ineffective, others might be a game changer. But then in the end, society just snips off these flaws and brainwashes us to make them seem as gods; even fictional heroes are not safe from this! Some well known fictional heroes like Superman, exhibit truthful traits in that sometimes they confess their frustration with the world, which in the end makes them seem humble.
A notable trait that strongly pops out for Superman is essential for a hero to be respected. “Wish that I could cry. Fall upon my knees. Find a way to lie. About a home I’ll never see” (Five for Fighting 3). When looking into what he says, he is stating what he wants in life, but some of his wishes have negative elements; such as lying. Stating what he desires into the public eyes not only takes courage, but Superman builds a strong honest relationship with his fellow citizens and real life readers. To illustrate how this applies in the real world, we must speak why society trusted heroes like MLK or Superman. The simple answer to that mind boggling question is, honesty. Now let’s move that to the side and see what Superman really wants to accomplish in life, “I’m just out to find the better part of me” (Five for Fighting 1). From this, we can conclude when he states that he desires to find the better part of him; it balances his self esteem, which the trait ‘humble’ falls perfectly under. To tell the truth, heroes from every media also have some sort of humbleness that they fall into; It doesn’t matter what kind of hero it is. Einstein for instance, even though he is head strong, he still acts like a goof, which is good in a way. For the past few moments, we have discussed what makes Superman, and any other hero-like figures, a hero, but that’s enough. It’s time to discuss the flaws that Superman specifically possess that make him an ordinary civilian. The one flaw that Superman has is expressed by the following. “I’m more than a bird. I’ more than a plane...It’s not easy to be me” (Five for Fighting 2). One can see that Superman is implying that he is telling the world that he is not a simple stereotype. He’s more than that and from the tone that he portrayed, it is obvious that he is
frustrated how society treats him. And with that, you can infer that behind that outside layer of skin, heroes are just as frustrated with society as Superman. Thus, making them flawed. In the end it doesn’t matter what media the hero is from because he/she will have flaws, even if it is historical or not. Sometimes heroes posses the trait of deep regretting, but luckily, those traits are balanced out with the natural ability of being cautious and hysterical; such as Albert Einstein. When World War II was occurring in our society, the one person who knew something that the rest of world didn’t was Einstein, and from his knowledge, he informed the United States. “The man who warned Roosevelt about nuclear dangers...” (Biography.com). This is important to notice since that Einstein's cautious move would drive us into the scary nuclear age that we now live. But besides that, Einstein was cautious of what the Germans could develop, in which would leave the world in utter destruction. Even though heroes like Superman are seen to be strong and well-bodied, they must be cautious whenever dealing with a difficult situation. Simply, brute force can’t solve all problems that heroes face. Now people like Einstein seem to be serious all day and can’t loosen up, but that’s not the case; “...and his bright sense of humor” (Biography.com). This might not be as hard to determine the trait of this like it was from the previous sections. It clearly states that he has a sense of humor. Similar how society pictures heroes as strong and well-bodied figures, society must accept that heroes can not work on major projects for a long periods of time. Heroes, and everybody else must loosen up a little! Finishing off, close to Einstein's death, after he told to start the construction of nuclear weapons, he now has something else to say. “When Einstein heard the news, he put his hands in his head and said ‘I could burn my fingers off that I’ve wrote that letter...’” (Biography.com). From what is said, we can conclude that Albert Einstein clearly regrets what he has done, and feels greatly ashamed for it. This indefinitely demonstrates that heroes will with no doubt make mistakes and they will feel that they are personally responsible for the consequence. Even the most smartest person to live in the 20th century, he still made mistakes just like his predecessors. Now you should look back to what society has done to you to misinform the truth about heroism. Heroes are not perfect, and will never be perfect because they are normal people, even if the hero is fictional or not. Appreciating what heroes have to deal with will not only properly educate you, you will grow as a person with this knowledge. Look back into the times of myth creating and the times of written stories, each hero might have different backgrounds, different traits But what will always be the same is that every one of them is flawed, no matter what. Now look back, compare your newfound understandings with your previous, misguided intentions. Notice that Superman is more than muscle and bone, notice that Einstein is more than brain and bone, notice that each hero is more than what meets the eye.
There are many differences between the archetypes of the hero’s journey. For instance The Hobbit is about a hobbit that is taken on a journey with dwarves to reclaim the Lonely Mountain. While A Long Way Gone is a story about a boy who is separated from his family and is drafted into the army to do unspeakable things.The hero’s journeys in The Hobbit and A long way gone were very different from each other.
Some people are born to be heroes. Some people may be forgotten heroes. Some people are born not to be heroes at all. In ways they are similar and in some ways they are different. John Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Monomyth shows the certain stages that a hero would traditionally go through to be qualified as a hero. Elie Wiesel is not a monomyth hero, because he does not follow the correct steps and does not hit enough steps to be considered a monomythic hero.
Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, conveys, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom”. In other words, Aristotle states that the gaining of self-knowledge provides an individual with the ability to know one’s personal gifts and accountabilities. To start one’s adult life a person must pursue the journey of self-discovery to learn in depth about their skills and weaknesses. Individuals must find themselves through the limitations and ordeals that they face during their voyage for self-awareness. For example, in Tim O’Brien’s short story, “On the Rainy River”, the narrator shares his story about self-discovery. O’Brien looks back into his past, to the time when he was called to serve in the Vietnam War. O’Brien’s initial
Humanity has created this “universal story” of what a hero is, or at least the myth of it, time and again. Different tasks and encounters with a variety of villains all lead the hero to the prize, to a new life (Seger). This person deemed the hero is as ordinary as the next but what makes them different is the drastic test that they must face. Individuals admire this character because the hero stands for something, something bigger than themselves. Whether it be the compassionate act of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games or the death of the oldest brother in Brother Bear, as an outsider, an individual sees the human side of these heroes and relates. Connor Lassiter from Unwind by Neal Shusterman is an ideal example of the myth due to the
The Odyssey, by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald, is an epic poem written about 3000 years ago. It is essentially a sequel to the Iliad, as it tells of the story of a Greek man named Odysseus and his ten year journey back home to Ithaca, after the Trojan War. It also follows the story of his estate and his wife Penelope which are both being fought over by the suitors that have occupied his palace and are consuming his goods. Along with his son, Telemachus, who is set out on a journey to uncover the whereabouts of his father by the Greek goddess Athena. The epic also gives insight to many of the classic Greek ideals that Odysseus embodies and other Greek virtues and values that are explored through the story of Odysseus’s journey back home. A striking resemblance is seen between Odysseus’s characteristics and many of the characteristics we see in heroes in modern culture and entertainment today. Another striking resemblance is that of the journey of Odysseus and how closely it follows that of the Hero’s Journey archetype. Although some of these Greek ideals still maintain to be relevant, others are
Joseph Campbell made himself one of the chief authorities on how mythology works when he published his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In this book, Campbell describes what he believes to be the monomyth, known as “The Hero’s Journey.” Campbell wrote that this monomyth, the basic structure of all heroic myth, has three basic stages, which in turn have subcategories themselves. The heroic story of Katniss Everdeen, told in the movie Hunger Games, follows Campbell’s monomyth outline quite well.
The Hero’s Journey is an ancient archetype that we find throughout our modern life and also, in the world of literature.Whether metaphorical or real, the journey that a character goes on shows not only the incredible transformation of the hero but it also gives them their life meaning. It is the ultimate human experience and it reflects on every aspect of life. Take Logan, also known as Wolverine, from the X-Men movie as an example. His adventure starts with “The Call,” which is the first step of the Hero’s Journey. This step happens due to the realization of imbalance and injustice that the character has in their life. Logan steps into the first stage of the pattern but is hesitant to start his adventure because he does not know what and
What makes a man a hero? Where lies the line which when crossed changes a mortal man into a legend? Is it at the altar at Canterbury? in the Minotaur’s labyrinth? or is it an age or a time? Does a man become a hero when he transforms from a boy to an adult? or when he stops being a man and becomes a martyr? Where are the heroes of 1993? In whom do the children of this age believe? Like whom do they strive to be? Kennedy, Lennon, and even Superman are dead. World leaders are mockeries of real men, more like Pilates than Thomas Mores. Pop culture’s icons change daily. It is interesting that nearly 600 years ago someone was writing about heroism in a way that can be understood today. The poet of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells a tale in which a man is proven to be a hero through the seemingly un-heroic decisions made in the course of numerous tests. Sir Gawain is a hero for the 21st century. He is tried and trapped, he is inundated with opportunities to fail and yet he does not lose. More importantly though, in the end he learns an essential, inescapable fact about himself and human nature.
In conclusion, a hero may not measure up to what the public accepts as true, but the nation grants them credit for the country’s success. If the world lacked baristas and other “small” employments, “the right stuff’s” significance would cease to exist. A hero’s accomplishments often overshadow the genuine individual behind the deeds. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe illustrates how humans have the tendency to place heroes in a position of high honor and respect, when perhaps these idols do not hold entitlement to the privileges they
“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”.
The word hero as defined as an “individual who has the courage of conviction to perform feats that benefit the general populace, acts as a soldier of virtue, and has an altruistic spirit that urges him or her to act against evil and defend the greater good at all costs, even sacrificing his own well-being or life.” (Harrison 2). Although heroes can come in any shape and size they are commonly found in stories we read, movies we watch, or people we look up to. We do not think about it much but even our own life is made up of many hero’s journeys. We never realize that our hardships and how we overcome them is exactly what a Hero’s Journey is about and why we relate to and enjoy these stories so much. I will be going into the depths of a Hero’s
Joseph Campbell defines a hero as “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself ” (Moyers 1). The Hero’s Journey consists of three major parts: the separation, the initiation and the return. Throughout a character’s journey, they must complete a physical or spiritual deed. A physical deed involves performing a daunting and courageous act that preserves the well-being of another person. A spiritual deed calls for action that improves another individual’s state of mind. While fulfilling their journey, a hero must undergo a psychological change that involves experiencing a transformation from immaturity into independence and sophistication.Campbell states that these events are what ultimately guides a hero into completing
Since the beginning of time humans have never been perfect. The first heroes were the gods and even they had flaws. The heroes of society have always had imperfections no matter how hard citizens try to look past them. The flaws of cultural heroes are something that all cultures have in common. No matter what story, the hero contains at least one weakness. A few examples are shown in the American, Japanese, and Brazilian cultures. I believe it is what makes our heroes realistic. Heroes are normal people who overcome obstacles in their way to make a difference in the world around them.
In movies, novels, and life, people are named as heroes. The heroes we establish and the heroes we recognize, however, may not meet the criteria for a mythic hero. A mythic hero ventures forth on his journey, and comes forth from the hero’s path to greatness. Joseph Campbell, a mythologist who studied many of the great human myths and religious tales, realized, in studying these myths and tales, that there were certain steps that every hero went through. Campbell called this “The Hero’s Journey”; it is based on Carl Jung's idea that all human beings have an archetype.
There is another type of hero that almost no one is aware of. In the poorest areas of the country, live mostly minorities and other ethic background. All their lives they’ve been expected to work harder and expected not succeed in life. Some individuals living in poverty with a determination to succeed work hard all of their lives to become what everybody doubted they could. Escaping the crime, drugs, and prostitution is enough to escape hell, even if they don’t go to college. Despite of their financial problems, drug and crime surroundings, or difficulties in the language skills, their desire to triumph fuels their persistence. Those who make it to success are the few living examples of the purest form of hero anyone can be. They are not only their own heroes but also the heroes of the poor children who dream of becoming like them someday.