You Call Yourself a Hero?

“What is a society without a heroic dimension?”- Jean Baudrillard

The concept of a hero is something that is used in literary works as well as everyday life.  It is ingrained in society and will remain so for years to come.  The definition of heroism is established through the media and literature and can be found across a variety of cultures.  In essence, the broad guidelines of a hero remain the same, but the light in which it is viewed can differ greatly across regions.  The normal parameters for a hero include: bravery, a “larger than life” persona, as well as an action that is performed to help other people.  Literature is best at creating the perfect heroic figure.  Beowulf, for example is a quintessential hero down to his appearance and stamina.  He saved a kingdom from the wrath of Grendel and defeated a tireless dragon, all with his incredible strength and a single sword.  Literary figures often prove themselves by performing a grand deed, or saving thousands of lives. 

 In the United States, real-life heroes, such as firefighters and police officers often have the word “hero” associated with their job title.  Their career involves helping others, so they are considered brave and heroic in nature.  In some parts of Afghanistan, suicide bombers are seen as heroes.  They are doing something “for their country” and this sacrifice is a respected and heroic action.  For many people, this would not appear to be heroic on any level but different cultures have different ideas on the topic.  In our world today, heroes can be everyday people, but the media often defines who those heroes are.  We have all heard stories about the man who lifted a car off of a neighbor, but what if that man is an alcoholic who beats his wife at night.  Would he still be considered a hero?  “Heroic actions” are often seen as more important than good personality traits or good deeds done on a daily basis.  Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.”  Brave actions are glorified in our society and serve to keep the theme of heroism alive. I don’t believe that there will ever be a time when heroism is not a part of our society.