Sometimes their stories are buried in the sands of time without making a ripple, but many survive to become legends in countries across the world. (photo Christopher Reeves)
Both in fiction and real-life heroic figures are individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage, bravery, and often selfless actions.
In my life I've seen and met many heroes. I witnessed 18-year-old males commit acts of courage in the midst of a firefight in the jungles of Vietnam and Cambodia. I've seen homeless veterans across America clinging to their pride despite their circumstances.
I've seen mild mannered individuals stand up to bullies, even if it meant getting their ass kicked. I've witnessed everyday citizens who refused to be bullied by corrupt governments despite being punished for their resistance. I've met and seen people with physical and mental disabilities that are everyday heroes getting by under challenging circumstances.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Their universal qualities are called archetypes.
The Classical Hero
Sometimes called romantic heroes, are everyday people that have great talent. The classic hero possesses an attribute or quality that distinguishes them from ordinary people, making them a hero. Your classic hero has gifts other do not.
The Everyday Hero
The "everyman hero" has no outstanding abilities or attributes. They are often put into an extraordinary circumstance where they must act with heroic qualities. I call them reluctant heroes.
Tragic Hero
It was the great philosopher Aristotle who first defined the ill-fated protagonist as a tragic hero, or flawed hero who evokes a sense of pity or fear from the audience. The hero of a tragedy has to be someone whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but with some error of fate.
The Epic Hero
The Greeks are credited with defining a protagonist as an epic hero who is awe-inspiring and often depicted in epic poems. Their fortune is brought about by their admired characteristics. Think The Odyssey and the Illiad. The heroes are cunning, brave, humble, smart, and virtuous.
The Anti-Hero
An anti-hero, by definition, is a main character who lacks conventional heroic attributes. They range from being a good person with an unattractive vice to a criminal master mind who has a heart of gold.
Despite being fictional characters superheroes are extremely popular in cultures around the world. Think Superman and Spiderman. Their powers are diverse, from superhuman strength to X-ray vision.
I think we all have heroes in our lives but don't always realize it.
Some do. My Dad was my hero. Setbacks in life didn't slow him down or discourage him. He always plowed forward and managed to raise four children in the hardest of times.
As it Stands, one of my favorite quotes about heroes comes from the actor Christopher Reeves, "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
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