Leandros Pandoulis
What is a Hero?
1.) Discuss examples of heroes from literature, history and life. What defines these
characters or people as heroes?
The notion of “heroism” is universally inherent amongst all beings. All people,
regardless of their differences in culture, race, economic or social standing are
heroes in their own right. To be a “hero” or to act heroically does not require one to
possess supernatural or extraordinary abilities as suggested and portrayed in
contemporary culture through the manifestation of characters such as “superman”
or “spiderman.” Rather, the definition of a “hero” is the result of the interpretation
of the individual by those within their societal context. It is the qualities or behavior
of the individual and subsequently the apprehending of these elements by others,
which allow ordinary beings to be elevated to “heroic” status. This notion is
evidenced in the Ancient world throughout various pieces of literature and continues
to exist in history as a whole.
The Ancient Greek historical figures of Achilles and Patroclus are two examples of
“heroes” defined by their societal context. The portrayal of these men in historical
literature, most thoroughly within Homer’s “Iliad” allows one to most adequately
acknowledge their “heroic” nature. The notion of war was profoundly prevalent and
widespread within the ancient world. It formed a part of ancient life and was also a
key element of ancient culture as a whole. The exceptional skill and ability of Achilles
and Patroclus in battle allowed both men to excel in this “micro culture” granting
them prestige within their society. These exceptional individual qualities were
further iconized by the ancient world; subsequently deeming both men “heroes.”
Observing the special behaviors and treatment extended to Achilles and Patroclus
enhances the definition of both men as heroes. The baroque funeral ceremony held
for Patroclus described in the Iliad (23.124-6) exemplifies this notion. Within the
Iliad, the eloquent tomb manifested by Achilles for his ‘hetaîros (comrade) conveys
the notion that both men were held in regard more prestigious than the common
dweller; one of heroic nature. The scale of the pyre described as “a hundred feet
long this way and that way” in conjunction with the items placed in the tomb such as
“two-handled jars of oil and honey…four horses with strong necks…nine dogs of the
table and twelve noble sons of the great-hearted Trojans” help to further portray
and define the heroic nature of both Patroclus and Achilles. It is this garnishing of a
traditional custom that defines both men as heroes.
The exceptional soldierly ability of both Achilles and Patroclus was a quality idolized
and respected within the ancient world, made all the more significant by the
prevalence of war and its acceptance in ancient life. Furthermore the extraordinary
treatment extended to both men in comparison to the common person helps solidify
this notion. Heroes are ultimately defined by their qualities and behavior and the
interpretation of these factors by a broader society.
Leandros Pandoulis
Leandros Pandoulis
2.) Has the idea of the Hero always been the same? Discuss examples of different
types of hero?
The concept of the “hero” has evolved considerably over time. In imagining the most
basic notion of a hero, images of both physical grandeur and extraordinary ability
come to mind. This archetypal hero, one who is extraordinary, supreme, and godlike
in some cases can be defined by the Ancient Greek heroes of Achilles and Odysseus.
Their “godlike” personas, courageous leadership and exceptional battle skills
described in Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odessey” allow them to become heroes. In
creating these heroes, Homer succeeds in painting the picture perfect archetypal
hero, but he essentially fails in revealing any other aspect that constitutes a “hero.”
The portrayal of these men as one-dimensional demi-gods is a flaw that has provided
the opportunity for the concept of the “hero” to evolve.
Succeeding the archetypal definition of a hero is the multidimensional hero. The
definition of hero evolved from being purely focused on physical stature and
possessing extraordinary divine ability to one more secular and relatable for the
common person. These heroes are often the main subject of literature or an epic
and allow a common audience to share experience or emotion. The protagonists of
Cold Mountain and Catcher in they Rye; Inman and Holden Caulfield are both
portrayed as multidimensional heroes. Inman a tired and broken civil war soldier,
wants nothing more than to return to his love, Ada, while Caulfield, a young and
cynical teenager, wanders aimlessly through most of his story, with no particular
purpose. These heroes, while not possessing physical stature or any extraordinary
ability, are heroes as they overcome basic humanitarian struggle.
Expanding on this definition of the hero is the modern concept of a hero. To be a
hero in contemporary society one does not need be held in high regard nor the
subject of an epic. Every living being is a hero in their own respect. Overcoming
adversity or simply acting in good heart and good nature can constitute the modern
definition of a hero. Figures such as Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr best exemplify
the prestigious end of this modern spectrum, while the person who is reading my
answer to this question is simultaneously forming the opposite common end of the
“hero spectrum,” albeit a hero nonetheless.
Leandros Pandoulis
Leandros Pandoulis
3.) To what extent do the qualities embodied in a hero reflect the society around
him or her ?
To a significant extent the qualities embodied in a hero have reflected the society
around him or her. The Ancient Greek historical figures of Achilles and Patroclus are
two examples of “heroes” defined by their societal context. The portrayal of these
men in historical literature, most thoroughly within Homer’s “Iliad” allows one to
most adequately acknowledge their “heroic” nature. The notion of war was
profoundly prevalent and widespread within the ancient world. It formed a part of
ancient life and was also a key element of ancient culture as a whole. The
exceptional skill and ability of Achilles and Patroclus in battle allowed both men to
excel in this “micro culture” granting them prestige within their society. These
exceptional individual qualities were further iconized by the ancient world;
subsequently deeming both men “heroes.” However, the extent to which a hero’s
qualities are reflected in the society around them is hindered by the modern
interpretation of the “hero.” In a modern context, a hero is not defined by the
qualities they share with their societal context but rather by their individual behavior
or actions. Everyone who acts in good heart and mind can be defined as a hero.
Labeling someone a hero is no longer the role of society, but rather the role of any
individual.
4.) What is a Hero Cult?
Hero cult is essentially the worshipping of an individual who is deemed a “hero” or
possesses “heroic” stature. It can be best described as the interaction of ritual and
myth in worshipping a hero. The existence of hero cult is evidenced in Homer’s
Iliad and Odyssey. “Iliad” portrays the ritual and customs of hero cult in describing
the burial of Patroclus. One is able to observe the illustrious burial which takes place
for a hero as evidenced by the scale of the pyre which is described as being “a
hundred feet long this way and that way” in conjunction with the items placed in the
tomb such as “two-handled jars of oil and honey…four horses with strong
necks…nine dogs of the table and twelve noble sons of the great-hearted Trojans.”
Similarly, “Odessey” also conveys hero cult as Odesseus undertakes ritual to
summon fallen heroes. The pouring of “drink offerings for all the dead, first honey
mixed with milk, and the second pouring was sweet wine, and the third, water” in
conjunction with the slaughtering of a “barren cow” and a “ black ram” detail the
significance of hero cult in ancient Greek religion.
Leandros Pandoulis