Essay about Importance of Heroes to Society - 1485 Words

Flames are coming out of every opening in a building and a firefighter runs in to save someone that is inside. A police officer is shot while trying to ensure that no innocent lives are taken of those being held hostage inside a bank. A lifeguard jumps into the deep end of the pool to save a drowning child. Firefighters, police officers, lifeguards or even the next door neighbor could be considered heroes. Why does society have a need for heroes? What traits should heroes have? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hero in the following ways: a) a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b) an illustrious warrior c) a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d) one†¦show more content†¦He was to spend eternity on Mount Olympus, immortal and among the rest of the gods. The inhabitants of different cities had their fears put to rest when Heracles came to town. Many of the twelve tasks that Heracles endured i nvolved killing things that had the people living in fear. The people of the cities as well as continued generations following considered Heracles to the greatest of heroes. The Disney version, Hercules, the Latin name for Heracles, was a completely different version. Its portrayal of the story was inaccurate in a lot of ways. It painted the picture as Hercules’ enemy being Hades. It depicted Hercules through the eyes of what society considers a hero now. Some wonder if or why it is important to be a hero. Others don’t think that heroes are important at all. Why would it be important to be a hero? A hero, in today’s society, is someone that simply saves another person’s life. The â€Å"hero† doesn’t have to have an enormous amount of strength or ability. When a situation occurs where a life needs to be saved, there isn’t always an enormous amount of danger involved. Heroes show the rest of the world how to help others. Heroes also dis play what can be done in an emergency situation. Heroes are important because they provide everyone with good examples of morals that are lacked in present day society. Each minute of everyday, the morality of our country is reduced. Heroes show us all that there are still good peopleShow MoreRelatedImportance Of Heroes In Modern Society713 Words   |  3 PagesExamples of these heroes are Asclepius, the first doctor; Dionysus, the creator of Greek fraternities; and Hercules, the infamous monster killer. While these people completed honorable deeds, other people who had committed crimes were also known as heroes. These people include Oedipus and Medea who also received worship after their deaths. These men and women have had relevance in society for many generations, and continue to have relevance in today’s society. To the Greeks, heroes were always doingRead MoreThe Importance of Greek Mythology1650 Words   |  7 PagesThe importance of Greek mythology Today, the ancient Greek myths still fascinate readers throughout the world. There are thousands of books written about the importance of Greek mythology in the formation of modern-time societies. There are hundreds of movies created about the adventures of Greek heroes. Apparently, the events, creatures, and people described in the ancient Greek myths were not real; however, their mythical nature does not undermine the importance of Greek mythology in definingRead MoreBeowulf As A Hero910 Words   |  4 Pagesor nobility of character†(â€Å"Hero†). A hero shows much more than honor and glory, they sacrifice their own life to selflessly help out the lives of others. By having heroes it gives us hope, wisdom, and justice throughout the nation. The three main types of heroes include an epic hero, superhero, and your own personal hero. These heroes show that it s more than the cape or armour they wear, they show the true meaning of a hero by defining sacrifice, loyalty, a nd determination. Throughout the epicRead MoreThe Symbols And Similarities Of Captain America And Theseus731 Words   |  3 PagesThroughout human history, heroes have served as symbols of hope, sacrifice, and inspiration. Modern superheroes and ancient Greek heroes inspire societies with their impressive and heroic feats. Theseus and Captain America are no exception, they are legendary heroes of major significance. Captain America and Theseus symbolize a hero’s importance through their similarities and differences. They both sacrifice their lives for others safety, are symbols and champions of their people, and teach differentRead MoreThe Characteristics Of A Hero714 Words   |  3 Pages Heroes are always seen in comic books, TV shows, movies, and etc. The dictionary definition of a hero is, â€Å"a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.† Several traits go into being a hero, most basic ones being that they could be helpful, kind , intelligent, independent, or honest. However the most important traits that can be for an everyday person is that they are human, have morals, and they are very passionate about what they do. Although, inRead MoreEssay on Heroes in Our daily Lives667 Words   |  3 Pagespart on society for instilling in the younger generation with a lack of respect and admiration, a general tendency towards apathy. I did not have a hero because I felt that the heroes that my peers had were not individuals I could look up to. My parents stressed to me the importance of learning from those who do great deeds to society as well as having originality and individuality. I myself chose not to revere any particular individual. Society has an unrealistic definition of a hero. Heroes have longRead MoreHistorical Analysis Of Of Beowulf s Poem, Beowulf, Sir Gawain, King Arthur And Other Legends918 Words   |  4 Pagespopular culture. History offers us a variety of heroes and legends that we can read and learn about. The historical poem of Beowulf not only reveals to us the importance cultural values of the warrior society, but also the importance of literature. The warrior culture at this time reflects the values of the society of the 6th century. There are a couple of key features of Beowulf’s characterization that reflect what was important in Anglo-Saxon society. For example. Beowulf comes across as arrogantRead MoreHomeric Vs. The Iliad1654 Words   |  7 Pagesillustrate the sheer power of the heroes and leaders. Every warrior was just another piece of the phalanx, which is why the army was so withstanding of attack. While warriors and battle were portrayed in this era as one large mass, heroes of war and leaders were illustrated much larger, in size, in strength, and in power. Although background warriors were not given individualized attention throughout the epic, their scenes are juxtaposed to important battles between heroes, only emphasizing how importantRead MoreAncient He roes : Human History And Cultures Around The World1148 Words   |  5 PagesAncient heroes have played an important role pertaining to how we view other people and different societies. Ancient heroes have been and still are vital to human history and cultures around the world. Raglan provides a good list of traits that can be used to determine a hero. However, not all of Raglans points makes sense. With Raglan having weak points, there are points that should be added to his list. Having a hero’s father as a near relative to their mother is not a very substantial heroic traitRead MoreThe Heroes Of The American West1449 Words   |  6 Pages Every society has its heroes, and often those heroes are identified with a group which is revered and idolized for its bravery in defense of the noble objectives of the society. In the American West, that group has for many years been the Cowboys. Whether defending women and children against the threats from Native American â€Å"Indians† or other armed villains, or participating in one on one duels (or draws) against the â€Å"outlaws,† the Cowboys have been regarded as warriors who are the symbols of protection