In order to answer these questions, I believe that it is important understand the history of heroes. Heroes were originally created as a form of propaganda. This is clearly seen in epics such as The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, and The Aeneid. Gilgamesh represents the supreme power of the city of Uruk. Umma would have used this to flaunt his supreme power of all Sumerian city States but also to attract foreigners to join his empire. Homer used propaganda to glorify Greece. Odysseus represents the supreme power and courage of the Greeks. Similarly, Virgil uses his hero, Aeneas to glorify the Roman Empire and Augustus after a century of chaos and wars during the end of the Roman Republic. I think that people really needed these heroes at the time that they first appeared because these heroes invoked nationality and hope for a brighter future

As time went on many heroes stopped being used as propaganda and became used to inspire individuals rather than masses. Heroes became people that we can relate to and understand. Such is the case with Huckleberry Finn, Luke Skywalker, and Indiana Jones. I think; therefore, that when Bertolt Brecht said, “Unhappy is the land that needs heroes” she was right to a certain extent. Back in ancient cultures many people were unhappy. This is clearly seen in the case of The Aeneid, which was created in an attempt to reinstate hope in Virgil’s fellow Romans. A century of civil wars and murders of all significant politicians can easily drain a society of all hope. In that sense, I believe that Bertolt Brecht was correct in his speculation. However today our society is still being constantly presented with heroes and I do not think that we are unhappy. We simply enjoy reading or seeing people who we can only aspire to become.

But what is a hero? Heroic actions and behaviors have been defined differently throughout the history of heroes and it is therefore not simple to give a single universal definition for a hero. Having said so, and, for the intent of this blog, I believe that a hero is someone who prevails despite the circumstances he or she is faced with. Not only this but he or she also does so with a moral code. Many people would consider the protagonists of stories such as Beowulf, The Odyssey, Huckleberry Finn, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Raiders of the Lost Ark as heroes. I believe that this is true, to an extent.

            Take The Odyssey for example. The Odyssey is the epic from which the Homeric hero emerges. Odysseus is the very definition of strength and courage. He survives unimaginable obstacles despite having gods against him. He survives a shipwreck and then the sirens and even the Cyclops, he survives a all while clearly having Poseidon out to get him. Throughout his adventures Odysseus seeks to accomplish great deeds and he does so by taking charge of his own life. And though he may loss faith at times he pushes on with integrity and purpose. Even when Odysseus is with Calypso on her island he knows he must leave because, even though his wife will never be as beautiful as Calypso, the right thing to do is to return to her. And so, Odysseus becomes to first hero that our minds think of when heroes are mentioned.

            The Odyssey; however, was written over two thousand years ago, and since then heroes have changed. Mark Twain viewed heroes differently than Homer did. His view of heroes is expressed in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huck Finn, though young, also survives the obstacle that life presents to him. From the moment that he decides to run away from his abusive and alcoholic father Huck continues to prove his heroism. Although Huck does not kill “bad guys” or save the world from mass destruction, he is still heroic because he survives his predicaments and he does so while changing others lives and his own.

            There are the characters we read about, and then there are the characters portrayed through cinema. While watching movies that are based off of books it is important to keep in mind that some aspects may have been changed, left out, or exaggerated. That being said, heroes appear on screen as well as off screen. In The Lord of the Rings, for example there are many protagonists, which have there own heroic attributes. Aragorn who may as well have been modeled after the Homeric hero, is strong, fast, royal, honest, and a true friend. Aragorn leads men in the fight for Middle Earth, he inspires hope in men who have none left, and he protects the ones he cares about. In this aspect Aragorn is a hero, he not only survives brutal war wounds, endless battles, and isolation but he also is an incredibly honest and ethical man. However, the true hero if The Lord of the Rings, in my eyes is Samwise Gamgee. Why? Without him, Frodo (who is often referred to as the hero of the series) would never have made it into Mordor, let alone three feet out of the Shire. Sam provides Frodo with friendship, hope, and purpose. When Frodo can no longer walk Sam carries him, when the ring is in danger of being found, Sam keeps it, this is the case throughout the series.

            So far I have only mentioned men as being heroes. I find it interesting that women are hardly ever mentioned as heroines. This is shocking because there is no reason why a woman cannot be a heroine. I think that this lack of female heroes throughout history can be attributed to many different things. The most important factor most likely being that women’s lives were not cared about until around the early twentieth century. Women were, and in some places still are, only meant to stay at home and produce offspring. They had absolutely no other role in society. They were ignored and abused for much of the history of mankind. Men were the leading figures of society and it only makes sense that it has been only men who have been represented as heroes. Representing a woman as a hero would have been preposterous and mocked until the last century. However, there have been heroines throughout history; such as, Mother Teresa, Angelina Jolie, and Jone of Arc.

            Another important factor in the exclusion of heroines throughout history is that women are not thought as being powerful. Men are heroes because they represent masculinity and sheer power whereas women, for all intents and purposes, represent virtually nothing other than fertility.

            In summary, heroes are men and women who survive the obstacles of life with integrity, and who can be idolized for it. It is therefore only fitting that the protagonists of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, The Lord of the Rings, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and The Epic of Gilgamesh are considered as heroes.