How Heroes Are Important and How the Hero Beowulf Applies to That Importance - Free Paper

Christopher Reeve, actor "Superman," defined a hero as an ordinary person who discovers the strength to endure and persevere regardless of overwhelming obstacles (Kiger, 4). Everybody needs a hero because we all know heroes inspire us. We have grown to see many comic superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Iron Man, and Black Panther, who have inspired us in various ways. It is probably safe to state that most individuals in the contemporary world no longer dread monsters lurking in the dark; however, their desire for fearless heroes has never been stonewashed.

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However, these days, we have moved from acknowledging only comic characters as our superheroes. Currently, some of our heroes are war veterans who have demonstrated heroism in war, and most recently, the Space X astronauts endangered their lives to venture into space. Besides, we see valor in individuals who have made life-saving health inventions such as the Ebola vaccine, as well as people who have dedicated their lives and profession to assisting the poor and disadvantaged or advocating for correct social injustices such as John Lewis. Other champions in our society include Mother Teresa, Dr. Jonas Salk, who discovered the polio vaccine, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

We require heroes since they describe the bounds of our aspirations. People often describe their ideals by the heroes they pick, and subsequently, standards such as honor and courage determine who we are (Kiger, 5). Besides, heroes embody the attributes we desire to possess and the ambition we would like to accomplish. For instance, if a person picks women's rights campaigner Susan B. Anthony, to be their hero, such people will possess a very distinct opinion on what human brilliance entails compared to individuals who choose Tyler Perry. Heroes also help us to transform our lives. According to Joseph Campbell, a comparative mythologist, heroes experience individual transformation during their hero journeys (Kiger, 5). For example, in almost every narrative, the champion begins by lacking an essential quality, mostly humility, self-confidence, or feelings of their real objective in life. Hence, to achieve success, the champion must discover or recover these qualities. Similarly, in our lives, we experience a sincerely heroic transformation of our awareness. Only after we courageously risk growth and change in our lives can we achieve our maximum capability.

Beowulf exemplifies numerous features that make him a textbook epic hero. Examples of these characteristics comprise his larger-than-life physical forte, Beowulf's bravery when confronted with extreme danger, and allegiance to his superiors and people who serve him. Beowulf demonstrates the characteristics of an epic hero, not immortal or perfect, but superhuman. Beowulf's heroism is observed in two phases, youth, and age. There is a clear difference between Beowulf's youthful heroism and his transformation into mature heroism as a dependable king. Beowulf's remarkable strength exceeds those of ordinary human beings. Beowulf displays this character best when he fights Grendel to the extent of ripping Grendel's arm from his body. Grendel is a commanding beast who boasts of destroying hundreds of men, including experienced and strong soldiers. By killing Grendel, Beowulf perfectly portrays how his physical strength distinguishes him from the rest. Also, Beowulf shows he is fearless and very willing to physically endanger himself to save the lives of other people when he decides to go to Hrothgar's kingdom despite the expected hostility.

Work Cited

Kiger, P. J. (2015, September 29). Why do we need heroes? https://people.howstuffworks.com/need-heroes.htm.