Different Types of Hero in the Different Literary and Creative Genres - Essay Example

Most heroes have some kind of weakness or fault that makes us have sympathy for them. If they were too perfect, then people would be jealous of them, and they would not seem so real to us. The best heroes struggle against their fate and show moments of self-doubt, which proves that they are human after all. Superman is susceptible to the effects of a substance called Kryptonite, which means that at times he can be in real danger from enemies who know how to exploit this weakness. Gilgamesh has a weakness in his fondness for his brother Enkidu, and his very great sadness at the death of Enkidu brings him to a state of absolute wretchedness: “How can I rest, how can I be at peace?

Despair is in my heart” (Gilgamesh, p. 16). The death of Enkidu has robbed him of all his enjoyment in hunting animals, and in ruling his people, and so he goes into a long period of mourning. The real problem is that he has come to realize that he will one day die, because he has mortal blood in him and so his life takes a new turn, as he seeks the source of eternal life, to take away his fear of death. The notion of a quest, or journey, is often present in heroic narratives. Modern films usually pitch heroes against powerful enemies, in order to test them and let them illustrate how to approach adversity and display courage and perseverance in finding a solution.

Gilgamesh is morally tempted by divine figures, as when the goddess Ishtar wants to sleep with him, and he is helped by the gods when they bring him food while he sleeps. These supernatural events show that he is treated differently than ordinary people, and the gods take a special interest in him.