On Heroes

The idea of a hero is everywhere, from modern literature and movies to ancient mythology, spanning thousands of years and appearing in some form in every culture. But what exactly is a hero? Why are heroes so prevalent, and what would happen to a society without them?

Because heroes appear in different forms in nearly every society, there is no universal description of a “hero”. Heroes can be real people or fictitious characters. Though they traditionally act unselfishly for the greater good, heroes can also act primarily out of self-interest, and if the end result benefits society, a hero’s misdeeds are very frequently overlooked. While some heroes are violent, resorting to killing, others are more peaceful and inclined to rely on their intelligence when faced with a challenge. One society’s hero may even be another society’s worst enemy, as in the case of present-day terrorists. To extremist groups, suicide bombers are held up as models of courage and devotion to a cause, while to others, they are perceived as a source of evil. A hero, therefore, can only be defined in broad terms, as a person who faces a challenge of some sort (either a physical fight or an internal conflict) and triumphs, upholding his or her society’s ideals and serving as a role model to others. Heroes generally have some special trait that sets them apart from the rest of society—perhaps this trait is outstanding courage, great intellectual prowess, superhuman strength, or some sort of supernatural power. Yet heroes should not be too distant from the society that esteems them, or they lose their grip on the common man—the hero should be someone to whom everyone within that society can relate at least a little bit, and someone who everyone wishes to emulate.

The flexibility of the definition of a hero means that heroes will always be relevant; a society never outgrows its concept of a hero; rather, it is continually adapting that concept to fit contemporary problems. For this reason, today’s heroes and superheroes battle aliens, terrorists, and drug lords rather than an oppressive social system or the wrath of the gods.

In many cultures, the most prominent heroes are men, yet this does not mean that women are not or cannot be heroes. Because heroes are very much the creations of the societies that look up to them, they are direct reflections of the beliefs of their society, mirroring universally respected ideals rather than striking controversy. In the past, and even to some extent in the present, society is male-dominated. Families, governments, schools, and armies were (and still are) often run by men, while women who tried to pursue an unconventional lifestyle, rather than keeping house and raising children, were scorned by society. These circumstances made it nearly impossible for societies to recognize women as heroes or even strong characters, but as society has begun to show women the respect they are due, female heroes are gradually becoming more common in literature, movies, and all other forms of media.

Over thousands of years, the conflicts that heroes face and the manner in which they overcome them have changed significantly, yet the basic concept of the hero has remained. This is due to a deeply-rooted desire in human beings to have before them an example of strength and courage. The hero fills this need and also provides a sense of hope—if the hero can overcome adversity, then there is hope for the rest of society. A society without heroes, therefore, is often a society lacking a medium through which it can face adversity. Yet such societies are not doomed. Human beings are still capable of meeting new challenges, even without the outside help of heroes. In this sense, heroes act as society’s safety blankets—they are not necessary, but they provide a greatly desired sense of security, and thus are an almost inseparable part of the human experience.