What Makes a Hero Essay - 1377 Words

Everyday, society misconceives identities. In the eyes of Ralph Waldo Emerson, â€Å"A hero is no braver than any ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.† Heroism, in Emerson’s perspective, is the ability to stand out for longer, and to endure hardships for greater durations. The passengers on United Flight 93, which was hijacked by terrorists as part of the September 11 attacks on the U.S demonstrated bravery like few other civilians can measure up to. Although it is not clear whether passengers on the other hijacked flights fought back persistently, it is known that the passengers on Flight 93 attempted to take control of the plane, and were successful. During the 35 minutes the passengers spent attempting to get into the†¦show more content†¦When we think of one who lends his protection to others, we think of protecting them. When we think of one who desires fame and stardom, we imagine them meeting a challenge, and willfully fighting an op ponent. Beowulf chose not to defend, he chose to run into the strife of battle. For kindness? Or for distinction? There is much to be learned from Beowulf’s last sentence. â€Å"You are the last of our line, the noble Waegmundings, Royal House of Sweden. The rest has Fate swept to their doom - princes, proud warriors, great kings in their glory - all to their doom. Now I follow after.† In our class discussions, it had been hypothesized many times that Beowulf’s last line would reveal what his true intentions were. In this case, it was easy to see; Beowulf spoke about glory, and glory in Beowulf’s time did not stem from generosity. The meaning of Beowulf’s words are clear: he was out to be recognized. When Beowulf suggests that he is the last of the Waegmundings, it adds a very elitist tone. Beowulf is suggesting to Wiglaf that his family, his breed, is better then all others. What has Wiglaf done? He has protected his warrior. He has not done any sort of generous act. Simply, Wiglaf, who Beowulf praises at the end of his life has done good, and fulfilled Beowulf’s values because of his protection. Wiglaf may haveShow MoreRelatedWhat Makes A Hero Or Hero?812 Words   |  4 Pagesthat man may be, in essence, a hero. Because of this stereotypical â€Å"hero†, we do not see the real heroes in life. What really IS a hero or heroine? A hero is what we make of them, although some are undeserving of this title. We make a hero. You, me, society; we all make heroes. We give them this title. Heroes are role models, and role models, in my eyes, should possess three very significant qualities. Courage, humbleness, and morality; these form a hero. The classic hero. Ah, he’s brave and bold. HeRead MoreWhat Makes A Hero?1168 Words   |  5 PagesSuperman, Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, what do these three have in common? They’re all heroes. But what truly is a hero? Is it one who wins independence for his country, or one that helps an old lady cross the street? And should we aspire to be like this person? Using Brecht’s Life of Galileo, Beethoven’s Heiligenstadt Testament and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, we’ll attempt to answer that question. A hero typically in today’s culture is considered as someone who is admired for his courage and otherRead MoreWhat Makes a Hero?1209 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is a Hero? What is a hero? What makes him or her different from everyone else? In Phillip Zimbardo’s article â€Å"What Makes a Hero?† he states that heroes surround us. One in five or 20 percent of people qualify as heroes. Seventy-two percent of people report helping another person in a dangerous emergency. Sixteen percent report whistle blowing on an injustice. Six percent report sacrificing for a non-relative or stranger and fifteen percent report defying an unjust authority (1). AlthoughRead MoreWhat Makes A Hero?934 Words   |  4 Pages Most people have theories on what makes a hero a hero. 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Courage, intelligence, and morality are also necessary in order to really get penciled in to the â€Å"hero† categoryRead MoreWhat Makes A Hero? Essay902 Words   |  4 PagesA true hero is oneself who is compassionate and able to lift the pain of the world without suffering. Some hero’s are not real people while some are fantasy creatures. The word hero is known as someone who is strong, brave and has courage. Heroes can be defined as people who take up challenges in situations for the sake of their fellow being. Heroism is no matter the obstacle that come your way, the needs of you or someone else has to be fulfilled. Heros endure hardship and they learn about valuableRead MoreWhat Makes A Hero?1541 Words   |  7 Pages What is a hero? Is it superman? Is it your mom or dad? Is it your teacher? There are many people that are considered heroes. Some are just every day people, and some are super-human. Characteristics of heroes vary from era to era. Now people who are just simply a good person are considered a hero. But, back in ancient times to become a hero took much more. It took honesty, wisdom, and in some cases, wealth and superhuman abilities. With time new stories and beliefs are uncovered. In ancientRead MoreWhat Makes A Hero?1722 Words   |  7 PagesBatman.† That is a typical response from a preschooler if they are asked what they want to be when they grow up. However, heroes are not always wearing capes. They can simply be an Indian man that changed his mindset into something more inspirational. There is one thing that Superman and a policeman have in common. They are both heroes. No matter how different the fields are, they are brave, helpful, and hardworking. A hero can be someone known for courageous achievements. They are normally men,Read MoreWhat Makes A Hero?1115 Words   |  5 PagesWhat makes someone a hero? The usual response someone would give is courage, bravery, and honor. But one of the most important aspects than all of those things combined is humility. This is a characteristic of Achilles personality that has not been learned yet. Although will later on thanks to a journey that will befall him. Learning that there is more to life than pride. One of the most important things to Achilles is his pride and this is shown in the line â€Å"mother since you bore me for a shortRead MoreHero Essay : What Makes A Hero A Hero?832 Words   |  4 PagesWhat Makes a Hero a Hero? As I have recently sat down with my grandmother, Mary, I asked her questions about a hero and herself being a hero. My grandmother has such an impact on me in daily life along with being a personal hero to me. She is such an inspiration to me in so many ways that I could never think of taking for granted. I chose my grandmother as my hero because of obstacles I have faced, she was the one to show me the love and support I was in need of at the time. Mary shows the