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In life, there could be multiple ideas on what heroism really mean. Many people would be curious about what it would take for them to become a hero. In the short story “The Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane, a young union soldier’s name Fred Collins, who is engaging in a devastated war, decided to take a risk of running across a raging battlefield in order to retrieve water from a well for his fellow soldiers. Collins reveal the essence of bravery and courage by endangering his life to retrieve water for his fellow soldiers but at the same time he also did it to assist himself. Collins wants to prove to all of his company that he is brave enough to take risks. As a result, Collins demonstrates that his heroic actions is based on whether
or not an individual is able to take a risk for something he or she wants. There are many readers out there who show different perspectives toward Stephen Crane’s short story, however, the moral lesson that Crane wants to teach to the readers is that the act of heroism is based on bravery and courage.
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 both of Crane’s works he underlines the true meaning of heroism, meaning a person who risks their life for a high moral principle. While the characters in both works could be misconstrued as heroes, they are never heroes in the context of the definition. In “A Mystery of Heroism,” many believe that Collins’ act of giving the dying solider a drink was heroic, yet this is not a high moral cause. Collins was simply being humane by giving the solider a drink. At first, he does not want to be in the field any longer, and tells the dying man he can not permit his last earthly desire. Yet, his conscience gets to him, “He came dashing back. His face now turned gray, and in his eyes was all terror. ‘Here it is! Here it is!’” (Crane 462). Although it petrifies him, he gives the solider a drink. He does not do this for a high moral principle, nor for nobility. Collins simply gives...
The Hero's Journey is a theory created by Joseph Campbell and expresses the idea that most heroes are essentially the same person embodied in different ways. Lawrence C. Rubin describes the monomyth as, “The hero, or mythic protagonist, from birth to death is on a journey, replete with demons, both inner and outer, challenges both great and small, and a cast of characters, some enemies, others allies and companions” (265). The 2001 animation Osmosis Jones is no exception to this assumption. In the film, a white blood cell named Osmosis Jones goes on an epic adventure to save the life of Frank and prove himself to the people of his community. In the beginning of the movie, Osmosis starts off as an egotistical jerk who believes he can do everything on his own; however, as the film progresses, Osmosis realizes that sometimes two brains are better than one. Jones finds out the hard way that without a helping hand, there is little he can achieve alone. Osmosis’s journey through the monomyth develops the theme of teamwork because help from others proves to be essential to Osmosis’s triumph.
Barry Targan mentions in the article “True Grit” his true definition of heroic courage. Targan states that heroic courage is not only a single act of heroism or a demonstration of physical bravery. A hero is determined by the quality and magnitude of what is lived for, the worth of what is lived for. I agree with Targan’s definition and can relate it to my father who has lived for what he loves, and for what he fundamentally finds worth living for. My father, Brad, has traveled through many life obstacles and challenges, but all in all he stands happy with the life he now has. Brad has lived with four different step-dads, he has lived in poverty, and he was active in military base for three years. Though, he faced difficulties,
Heroism: Why Heroes are Important is a short essay by Scott LaBarge. In the essay, LaBarge is the narrator and tells a story his choice of becoming a philosopher. Inspiration came from one of his hero’s, Henry David Thoreau. Through the essay, LaBarge reveals what message the reader should learn. He not only informs the reader, but persuades them to think deeply and research who a hero is by using historical background information, an intended original audience, and emotional appeals.
In the story, “Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crain, the main character Fred Collins represents heroism because he risked his life to get himself water along with his troop, he ignored the negative comments, and gave a dying man his last wish. When Crain wrote this story he intended to bring curiosity to the real meaning of heroism. Fred Collins was in need of water, so he went to go talk to his captain, “I wan’t t’ get permission to go git some water..” (Crain N.Pag.), he needed to take the risk to go get water so he doesn’t become dehydrated, he grabbed the others mens canteens on the way out. Grabbing the others mens canteens shows heroism because he did not just think of himself, he thought of others too. No one could believe what he
Society commonly distinguishes the faults of life, the unorthodox aspects of deteriorated childbirth, as simply being irrelevant to the essential advancement/evolution of that particular group. Mankind has always wished to develop superior physiological and psychological features in comparison to those of the preceding generation. Thus strains of debilitated traits are often looked down upon and ostracized from the progressive majority (Darwin's Theory) as though they were mere ‘accidents’ of nature, deficient of any noteworthy potential. Rodman Philbrick, an American author residing in Boston, Massachusetts, delivers a morally enigmatic novel titled Freak the Mighty, imploring the elements of a pair of discriminated companions and the wondrous adventures they spent together. Maxwell Kane, the objective protagonist had a life riddled with isolation from his peers due to his supposedly inferior brain. But when Kevin, a seemingly brilliant child with a frail physique comes into his daily life, their encounters become those of Freak the Mighty. In a conjecture regarding to the plot, Kevin is the acclaimed hero of the story because he provided the main protagonist with a purpose, rescued him from immediate peril, all while persevering through the dreaded consequences of his disease.
Heroism has been a great theme in the literature throughout the decades. Many have differing, or different ways of expressing what a hero actually is. Ernest Gaines, the author of A Lesson Before Dying has a very accurate definition of heroism. Ernest Gaines views heroism as the act of sacrifice one makes for the interest of others’, as an innate illogical desire in all humans, and that, as humans, we all have the capability to be heroes.
2. Dike (p.77 to 79) Robert Ross shows his perseverance, when he tries to save himself from drowning in the dikes. He fights against Mother Nature, and thinks strategically by pushing himself and not giving up. He was fearful of drowning, mentally motivated himself to get out and avoid dying, and soon eventually breaks free. This shows how strong Robert is when motivated by the will to survive. Although he was fearful, he overcame it and saved himself, since some would just give up. Before entering the war, it was seen that he would run away from his problems (Rowena’s death), but now as he realizes that there is no point of return, he finds a new sense of drive. He shows his willpower, by maintaining an independent, and strong, logical mind when faced with fear, and learns to fight so that was doesn’t get the best of him. “I don’t want to drown, he thought. Please don’t drown. He pushed himself up with his head hanging down,” (Findley 79).
Magawisca demonstrates her heroism early on in the novel when she tries to defend the Fletcher family from being massacred. She tries to intervene, against her father’s wishes, because she feels connected to the family she even states that she “bleeds when they are struck” (65). After being unsuccessful in saving Mrs. Fletcher and her two younger kids, she is determined to help Everell escape the same fate. When Everell is about to be sacrificed by Mononotto’s, Magawisca interposes her arm just as Everell’s neck is about to be struck with his hatchet, and her arm is lost during the process. Magawisca’s bravery and selflessness undoubtedly makes her a hero within the novel despite her gender or race.
In “Mystery of Heroism”, Crane depicts a fearless soldier who risks his life on a dare. I find this act juvenile, in the setting of the short story. War is surrounding them, and people and horses are dying all around them, and they can’t hold out for a drink of water. On his way back from filling their canteens, a dying man asks for a drink of water. He dismisses him, but then gives in. The man dies in his arms. What is a harsh reality, is that the men and women who are the most fearless and heroistic, are the ones who are not alive to accept praise. Collins returns with canteens full of water and he is praised and uplifted for his small act of heroism, when the true hero is one who does it without anything in return, who asks for no reward or mention. This same selflessness is illustrated in Whitman’s poem, “Oh Captain! My Captain!” The Captain of the story, is one who sacrificed all he had for the war but died tragically before the war’s end. “For you the flag is flung- for you the bugle trills. For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding, For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning.” The Captain is who should be receiving this praise, and the private, or soldier below him, shows modesting in giving the true hero
Day 1: Define heroism and list the criteria that you would use to grant Carnegie awards. Is your list consistent with the text's definition of prosocial behavior? I think people often get acts of heroism and acts of bravery mixed up. I think an act of heroism is defined as someone risking their life, and limbs to save another person. Furthermore, I think that acts of heroism cannot be done for selfish reasons, while acts of bravery can. For instance, a soldier saves a fellow soldiers life even though he receives fatal wounds for doing so is considered an act of heroism. While a soldier who is hoping to get a medal risks his life, but also endangers fellow soldiers is an act of bravery, because they are looking for something in return, and it is not an instinctual behavior. My definition of heroism is consistent to prosocial behavior.
It had been ten years since Judy and Thomas Lancaster escaped from the musty basement of the Lordorin Foundation.
The Traits of Heroism What makes a hero heroic, in your opinion, well I'm going to tell you about my opinion on what makes a hero heroic. It is often common that people think that to be a hero. You have to have some superpower or have certain skills that you excel in. But everyday heroes are often overlooked or not recognized.
A true act of heroism comes in many forms. It could be a firefighter running into a burning building to save lives, a police officer who stops a robbery or even our military men and women who fight for our freedoms. For me, another act of heroism is someone who battles cancer. None of us expected the news we were about to hear. My boss was being treated for flu like symptoms for seven weeks and tried two different antibiotics. Because he was on antibiotics and was not any better his primary care physician ordered a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia. This is when his life changed.