The Importance of Heroes

Origins - my website - started as a culminating task for my grade 12 English course. Although I spent most of my time attending lessons behind a screen instead of actually being in the class, I found many topics that were enriching and resonated with me long after the final bell rang. From all the stories we read, from Hamlet, to A Raisin in the Sun, to The Great Gatsby, one apparent focus was the topic of heroes. In specific, I reflected upon what it truly means to call someone a hero. Throughout the blogs, we have explored one key pattern among all distinguished persons. That the actions carried out during one's most vulnerable point are the most significant. It is in these critical moments that individuals becomes a hero or a villain.

More than all other themes in the course, my theme of choice carried the most impact. Here are a few reasons why the pivotal actions separating heroes from villains stuck out for me.

Commonality of Traumatic Experiences

From the course content, many characters reveal their true nature following the traumatic experience. From rock bottom, filled with sorrow and agony, there are three options. The first option is to accept the end and lie in misery, but easy choices are easy to make and easier to forget. The second option is to dig even further, making it even more difficult to see the light. The third option is to find a way to climb up and, in the process, become stronger, hardened individuals.

The first option is disregarded as it does not teach a lesson of a path to greatness. There are no lessons about the human condition to learn from. The second option is exemplified in characters such as Hamlet and Gatsby. The only thing they learned from their hardships was to hold on tightly to their flaws. And in doing so, they paved a path for their demise. The third option is the choice everyone should strive to make. Racism causes Walter Lee to stand up against for his family's dignity. Poverty causes Mathilde Loisel, from The Necklace - a short story by Guy de Maupassant, to recognize and appreciate the beauty of her life. Violence causes Reza Kiarash, from A Story of War and Change, to become a courageous soldier. At their most vulnerable moment, all of these characters were open to great changes. Whether their choice lead them to become better or worse was fully up to them.

Relevance of Heroism

Regardless of the times, heroes will always be a relevant topic. Back tens of thousands of years exist cave drawings that illustrate hunters risking their lives to provide food. These men were honored, while those who refused to hunt to protect themselves become forgotten, possibly casted away. In the Ancient Greek Era, Aristotle proposed the model for a tragic hero. Prospering and renowned individuals whose inner struggle against an imbalance of attributes cause their demise. In the twentieth century, Arthur Miller proposed a challenge to Aristotle's tragic hero with the modern hero. A common man with a sense of indignity due to the conflict of self and environment. And now, in today's time where superhero stories are creating the most sales and excitement. Throughout thousands of generations, tales of heroism have yet to disappear.

Application

In a world where good and evil are not black and white, we cannot make the right decisions alone. For even the youngest of age, authors embed moral teachings to last a lifetime. Lessons that guide us through making difficult choices in difficult situations. With the constant suffering in the world, we will always depend on stories of heroism to help us come to a moral conclusion.

A small window into my personal life:

Reading Hamlet opened a new perspective in my life. At one point, whether in one year or a hundred years, everyone will pass away. Amidst a global pandemic, the uncertainty of life grows even larger. Close relatives who sat at the dinner table every Saturday were now gone. And although it sucks, I had to move on and continue living my life. Not forget, but accept the reality and continue forward. Life is not going to last forever, and it is my job to maximize time I get.

Conclusion

Through many Shakespearean plays, modern plays, books, movies, tv shows, and even images, the common theme explored on this website is present. The decisions made during one's most vulnerable point reveal a hidden hero or a villain. A universal theme that can be applied to each of our lives, to help us become heroes ourselves.

References

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