Hero? It is a term you hear on the news and in stories and pretty much everywhere, but what does it really mean. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary it is a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability or one who shows great courage. This gives us a general idea of what a hero is, but what is separates the heroes from the average people.There are several legitimate answers. Superhuman powers, courage, strength, These are all true, heroes can posses these things. Though, the essence of heroism can be explained in three words bravery, loyalty, and love.
Shaking, Sir Gawain stood before the Green knight. He steadied himself preparing to receive a mortal blow. He was afraid yet he was working through his fear. In the story Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, many good and bad characteristics were shown. The story began when the Green Knight made an unexpected entrance at King Arthur’s New year's feast. The Green Knight challenged everyone there to give him a blow with his own ax. A year later the Green Knight would return the blow. King Arthur appalled decided to take up the offer, but Sir Gawain stepped in front him and took this mortal fait. He gave the Green knight the fateful blow. He comprehended when he stepped in front of King Arthur that he was risking his life. Surely, he would die. Willingly, he pushed aside his fear and faced the Green Knight. A year later he faced the green knight again. After three blows from the Green Knight, Sir Gawain survived. He showed bravery in his willingness to sacrifice his life for a good friend. He was a true hero.
Loyalty, it is hard to be the person that stands with someone else through the ridicule, but this is a mark of true friend, a true hero. Wiglaf from the old story Beowulf possessed this trait. When all of Beowulf’s friends had deserted him, Wiglaf stayed by his side and together they fought the dragon, who mortally wounded Beowulf. Beowulf in turn mortally wounded the dragon. Wiglaf never did leave his side the entire time. Even as he was dying Wiglaf fulfilled his dying wishes. Ashamed were the deserters of Beowulf. They did not posses the nature of a true hero like WIglaf They were only simple cowards. Wiglaf stayed, even with the trials that Loyalty can bring the joys are worth far more, true friendship and heroism is a treasure worth far more than any Gold.
Love, one could say is the greatest of all values. Love encompasses all others. If you love someone, you will be loyal, brave, kind, generous, and the list goes on. Love is what truly makes a hero a hero. Whether that love is for a stranger or their country. Love is woven into the fabric that makes a true hero. We can see this if we look past the folly in the Canterbury Tales. Palamon and Arcite fell in love with the beautiful Emily. Palamon spotted Emelye. He was overtaken by her beauty. He points her out to his cousin and friend Acrite. They both fall in love with her beauty. Now, willing to fight to the death over a girl they barely know. After many events that land them free from jail . A stadium is built by Theseus for them to battle for Emelye. Each with a 100 men on their sides, they doughtily fight for Emelye. Arcite dies trying to marry his love. Palamon lives happily ever after with his love, Emelye. They showed love for Emelye in the willingness to fight for her. Although it wasn’t wise to lose a friendship over a girl who simply attractive. Their love for her is apparent
Love, loyalty, and bravery are the marks a true hero bears. He is willing to die for a cause even if
he is scared. She is willing to remain loyal even when things are extremely difficult. Heroism is a quite
simple term once you take away the fancy facades. Heroism has its bare bones is something you and I
can do daily. We can all be heroes. It is not the amount of difference you make it is the fact that you
made a difference. Love may seem foolish at times. Loyalty may be hard. Bravery may be scary. If
you those things overcome the negatives, you can be the true hero you were destined to be.
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