Hero Definition Essay

643 Words3 Pages
On any summer day of my youth you could hear the sound of a small boy racing around the yard, red cape flapping in the wind, screaming at the top of his lungs: “It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s…Superman!” I distinctly remember begging my mother to make me that superhero cape, just like the one I saw Superman wear in the timeworn, faded comic books I read. She finally gave in and managed to find an old, red table cloth which she trimmed and sewed into what I thought was the ultimate superhero cape. I just knew that if I put that cape around my shoulders I could be invincible, fly to the rescue, help people, and be the hero that all of my friends idolized. As I have grown up I truly believe that my definition of a hero changed. I no longer think that heroes fly, nor are they invincible. When searching for a definition of a hero I wonder; what exactly makes someone a hero, and how/why has this definition changed? When defining a hero one must think about the character traits that person possesses. Words such as brave, tolerant, humble, dependable, selfless, compassionate, fearless, strong, and noble are commonly used when discussing true heroes. I feel that being a hero is having the willingness to make a personal sacrifice for the benefit of others. A hero is a person who doesn’t expect something out of the heroic deed, and they don’t need fame or media to honor them. Christopher Reeve, known as Superman to many, exemplified these traits, and lived the definition of a true hero. On the screen he was pictured as invincible when in his own life he fought for his own survival. He exhibited grace and strength while showing selflessness in order to help those that were facing similar circumstances. When asked "What is a hero?" Christopher Reeve replied that he “used to believe a hero was someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences”.

More about Hero Definition Essay

Open Document