Heroes do not exist. The media calls brave men, like those who diverted
the plane headed for the Pentagon during the September 11th attacks
heroes. The movies and comics create men with impossible or inhuman powers and
call them heroes. Some children seem to think their parents heroes, but
change their minds when they hit adolescence. However, heroes are not
born, but are created either from the minds of creative entertainers or
sentimental journalists. Thus, since heroes are simply average or
fictional men and women who are made iconic by a select few, heroes do
not really exist.
Many think of firefighters as heroes.
Ò Moreover, if we could dredge up something forgotten not only by
ourselves but by our whole generation or our entire civilization, we
should become indeed the boon-bringer, the cultural hero of the day Ð a
personage of not only local but world historical momentÓ (Campbell 5)
This characteristic of a hero discussed in CampbellÕs book most closely
follows my ideal hero, if he ever existed. Someone separated from
society, who has an objective yet compassionate view of the world and
who works quietly from the sidelines, eliciting huge changes in
societies, would be my hero. However, I do not think I know of anyone
who has these characteristics.
Another aspect of a hero Campbell identifies which coincides with my vision of a hero is the unity of mind and body. ÒWherever the hero may wander, whatever he may do he is ever in the presence of his own essence Ð for he has the perfected eye to see. There is no separatenessÓ (Campbell 43). The ability to see the world and yourself as you really are is a nearly sacred power which would give even the least ambitious man or woman the greatest insight possible.
Heroes may not exist, but I am glad for that. If a real hero, who possessed all the heroic attributes walked the globe, I believe that this would destroy the hope that so many of us have. I know that heroes from the movies and comics have always inspired me to dream up a world where impossible things happened and men and women had strange and wonderful powers. So the hope found in things of the imagination makes heroes special and important, and luckily nonexistent.
Another aspect of a hero Campbell identifies which coincides with my vision of a hero is the unity of mind and body. ÒWherever the hero may wander, whatever he may do he is ever in the presence of his own essence Ð for he has the perfected eye to see. There is no separatenessÓ (Campbell 43). The ability to see the world and yourself as you really are is a nearly sacred power which would give even the least ambitious man or woman the greatest insight possible.
Heroes may not exist, but I am glad for that. If a real hero, who possessed all the heroic attributes walked the globe, I believe that this would destroy the hope that so many of us have. I know that heroes from the movies and comics have always inspired me to dream up a world where impossible things happened and men and women had strange and wonderful powers. So the hope found in things of the imagination makes heroes special and important, and luckily nonexistent.
