Will I ever know what a hero is? After the past few weeks in World
Literature, I have become convinced that a hero really is just another
person. Mothers, fathers, firemen, religious leaders, knights in
shining armor Ð all of these may be a hero to one person, but another
may just as easily see that icon on a different level and thus
lack the respect for him or her necessary to make him or her a hero.
However, as Megan points out, one defining characteristic of a hero is
Ògoing beyond what the everyday person doesÓ (Megan SÕs post). This
aspect of a hero, along with some universal figures who serve more than
one society of heroes, indicates that there is something that sets
heroic people apart.
Will I ever know what a hero is?
One
incredibly prevalent characteristic of a universally accepted hero is a
life cut short. From Plato to Jesus to Martin Luther King, all the
possible heroes we have read about thus far died at the hands of
another. (Sir Gawain was mortally wounded in a fight with Lancelot). In
PlatoÕs The Apology, Plato insists: ÒÉthose of us who think that death
is an evil are in errorÓ (Bump 56). The unfinished life earns many
heroes respect, possibly undeserved. When a life is cut short at its
height, quite often only favorable actions are remembered. Quite often
it seems that that hero was deprived of the human chance of
faltering and thus loosing public support. Thus, a society feels
sympathy (not empathy, but sympathy- an actual connection) with the
fallen hero since he or she can interpret the hero however he or she
wishes. Sympathy cannot be confused with empathy: ÒEmpathy or
Einfuhlung emphasizes the dissolving of the boundary between the artist
and his object and his identification with it but signifies less an
actual entering into the imaginative objectÓ (Bump 132). So, the
incredible self-assuredness and dedication to a cause exhibited by a
hero draws othersÕ attention and eventually earns everyoneÕs respect.
Like Liz explained in her post, even though she may not necessarily
support Bush, she has empathy for him. (I think thatÕs what you were
saying, Liz)
Finally, as Emily pointed out, you can measure actions not thoughts. I
feel that this inability to measure a hero is very important in
maintaining the mystery of being or becoming a hero. In other words, if
there was a formula to becoming a hero, then anyone could buy a book
Seven Steps to Becoming a Hero, and become a leader in our society.
ÒÉwe may find ourselves talking more about characters and their choices
and less about the construction and deconstruction of textsÓ (Bump
133). As this quote makes clear, the character seems to be the
most important part of a text, and often can induce the greatest
debates and discussions. If we could just add up his or her attributes
and classify him or her, then we could all be in a math class and
disregard one of the fascinating parts of literature.
Sorry, Chetna, couldn't resist :)