Brian Kim
World Masterpieces
1st Period
How To Be A Hero
I grew up watching superhero cartoons and reading comic books. They followed the general trend of a superhuman hero, a victim in need of help, a supervillain, and a call of duty. As a child, I believed this was the definition of a hero. I dreamt of being that man with the super Spidey sense, that superhuman strength, and the tight undie-on-the-outside costume. I knew that with superhuman abilities society would acknowledge me, and I would finally be recognized for who I truly am. As I continue to grow older, my perception of a hero continues to change. Now, it seems as though being a hero can actually become a possibility. At the same time, I have accepted the fact that being a hero still requires much difficulty and dedication.
Heroes are people who are strong both physically and mentally. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the main protagonist, Gilgamesh, was born part-god. On the other hand, Enkidu was of equal strength and was created as a human. Both characters emerge as heroes; however, through their journey we can clearly define what makes them heroes.
Heroes emerge from their abilities. This is apparent in The Epic of Gilgamesh, as both protagonists were known for their superhuman abilities. Yet, Gilgamesh’s growth from villain to hero must be recognized. This leads to The Banality of Heroism. The truth of the matter is that anyone can become a superhero. It is how we use our abilities for others that makes us heroes. Gilgamesh was a villain hated by his own people. Enkidu represents the average person. It is how we each do our own part in the process of creating a better world that makes us heroes. Enkidu emerges as a hero as he positively influences Gilgamesh’s life. This shows that anyone can be a factor in the process of making others heroes and/or even becoming a hero. Enkidu and Gilgamesh are heroes because they answer their call of duty. They utilize their abilities and work together to defeat Humbaba. In this way, Gilgamesh and Enkidu demonstrate both physical and mental strength. The Banality of Heroism argues that “we are all potential heroes just waiting for a moment in life to perform a heroic deed.”
In order to understand what a hero is, we must understand its counterpart: what is a hero not? What makes a person a villain? Evil acts are evident in our everyday lives, and the banality of evil is just as relevant as the banality of heroism. The difference between the two depends on our perspective. Can heroes really be heroes if only a certain group in society considers them heroes? The movie Hancock offers insight into this, as Hancock was always a “hero” who was, at first, unaccepted by society. Again, what made Hancock stand out among other people was his superhuman abilities. Still, the question remains: was he even a hero at all in the beginning?
To connect this to ourselves, each and every one of us has the ability to become heroes and villains. In order to label someone a hero or a villain depends on how the person views himself. The greatest obstacle in Hancock’s life was his identity crisis. In the same manner, for a person to truly become a hero is for him to accept that he is a hero.
This process of self-revelation takes time. We are all innately heroes. It is our ability to overcome the obstacles that hinder us from being heroes that makes us heroes. Heroes are strong-willed, modest, average people. Our world is a world of superheroes, and to create a superhero society, we must all take part in making our world a better place.
Works Cited (MLA 7)
Jackson, Danny P. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Wauconda, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci, 1992. Print.
Zimbardo, Philip, and Zeno Franco. “The Banality of Heroism.” n.d.: n. pag. Print.
Hancock. Dir. Peter Berg. Perf. Will Smith. Panorama, 2009. Film.
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