Along with strength, one must have other distinguishing traits to be considered an epic hero. Overall, heroes are morally and principally sound. They have good character and usually lack evil traits (Patton 1). A hero should not seek glorification or attention for their aid; they should be concerned only with doing good. Although Beowulf does seek a little glorification, he shows that a hero must be humble.
Webster’s dictionary defines the term hero as “a mythical or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability; a person admired for his/her achievements and noble qualities; one who shows great courage.” The same dictionary also defines the term rebel as “opposing or taking arms against a government or ruler.” After taking both of those definitions into consideration, it is not hard to give the rebel-hero title to Bartleby. For example, it takes more than a little bit of courage to stand up to the boss of the company and tell him that you prefer not to do the daily work tasks. His greatest strength and/or ability are being able to never
One might say he displays heroism by stepping up to accept the Green Knights challenge in the place of king Arthurs, this act is also displayed as courageous, a prerequisite to heroism. The problem with this is his obligation to the king, to his chivalrous code invalidates this. By having an obligation to make this act, the act of heroism is not pure. His obligation to the throne is not heroic, it is expected of him. This is not exactly
This shows disloyalty towards his people who are very loyal to him. Through these points, it is evident that Odysseus lacks the necessary traits of a true hero. Superficially, his victories and valor make him seem as though he is heroic. Yet, the underlying issue is that Odysseus tends to be selfish, disloyal and cowardly. By the end of his journey the many occurrences of his flaws outshine his perceived heroic qualities.
The Great Gatsby A hero can be defined as a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. In the novel The Great Gatsby the hero Nick Carraway may not fit the definition of a hero as he does not save a life or show extreme bravery though he is a decent, honest and honorable man who most closely resembles an average human being out of all of the other characters in the novel. This therefore qualifies him as the hero in the novel he is also adversely affected or change by most of the events of the plot. Unlike Nick both the Buchanans and Gatsby are a faced with the fault of death and even that does not change them, they try to hide it or blame others to protect themselves. All of the characters in The Great Gatsby start out with there own dreams and goals, well Gatsby and the Buchanan’s let nothing stand in the way of their dreams and goals, Nick adapts his dreams and goals as the plot unfolds which ensures he is always happy with his choices.
“Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom”(97). Jim’s excitement in knowing that he’s almost a free man demonstrates his unrelenting desire to be free. These mutual feelings of wanting to escape an old life between Huck and Jim do not crossover to Tom, however. Tom, being raised in relative comfort, is used to living with strict adherence to a list of “rules”. Even though Tom makes his own rules and uses the river as a “base of operations” of sorts, its his adherence to the ideas of having rules that contrasts Huck’s defiant attitude towards authority and constrictions.
Again, he has no logical reason to want or need to fight the dragon, but he does it simply to be a hero and to keep his reputation of a warrior. He even states, “I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still” (Raffel 101). Beowulf only wants to fight to prove himself as a hero yet again. However this time, the risk is too great and he ends up getting killed in the fight. But, he died a hero so he had no regrets.
Victor for his drive and fearlessness to achieve something thought to be impossible, although self-motivated. Victors’ reaction to what he had created is no different than how any of us would react. Victors’ undertaking was not well thought out, and for that he is guilty. However, his demeanor is a necessity. If not for his obsessive drive, planes and automobiles would only be a dream, diseases would be cured at a dilatory rate and entertainment would be marginal at best.
He relies on his actions saving a nation to be dubbed a hero and worthy of the title of greatest warrior. Gawain on the other hand did not need to save anything or anybody to be termed a hero to his peers. He embodies virtue and the characteristics of a good person coupled with a perilous journey to keep his word. Some aspects of heroism stay the same though, namely the fact that both characters are in danger of losing their lives and ultimately sacrifice in order to complete their task. In Beowulf’s case, he loses his life in the battle with the dragon, but for Gawain he symbolically offers his life to the Green Knight to take, and only through the Knight’s generosity does he let Gawain live.
Courage can be portrayed as both physical bravery and strength, but fighting for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose takes more strength in character, and is ultimately more courageous. A modern day hero exhibits courage in the face of adversity. Atticus Finch chose to help Tom Robinson even though her knew that he does not stand a chance in the case. “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience – Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man. (Lee 116) Of all, the greatest demonstration of courage is Atticus’ fight for Tom Robinson’s life.