The Essence of a Hero - Essay Example

But a question arises whether this definition can be used in modern times where heroes are ordinary people that in times of crisis and need to perform exceptionally and for the greater good. The meaning of the word hero has changed over the years and this word has been used in different contexts.

One act of heroism represents a new definition of a hero. Whenever a hero is pictured, a strong, powerful individual is imagined who is not only experienced but also mature. But when Carlos, a seven-year-old boy’s home was invaded by burglars, not only did he show nerves of steel but also called the police and urged them to send help. Hiding in the bathroom with his sister, Carlos told the police everything that was happening in their house and explained the situation with the poise and calmness that many adults fail to show in these circumstances. Even though the suspects have not been caught yet, Carlos will be awarded the Kids Medal of Honor and he has been labeled as a hero. Though Carlos was a young boy and did not fulfill the image of a hero his act of bravery serves to imply the use of the word hero for him (Fremd & Seigel, 2010).

One of the most deadly terrorist attacks that took place in today’s world was no doubt the World Trade Center attack. These attacks not only left thousands of citizens dead but also witnessed many acts of courage and bravery by the New York Fire Department and the policemen who even though were put on alert since the building could collapse anytime but continued with the rescue efforts. These men and women showed strength and bravery while knowing completely well that they would not survive if the building which was already on the verge of collapse, fell. This is again an example of heroism and these people who worked selflessly were marked as heroes. Thus a hero may be defined as an individual who works for helping people without searching for his benefit and without caring about the consequences (Kapp et al, 2011).

When the word hero is defined, there is always a debate about what is the status of the terrorists who on one hand are not only branded criminals but are also termed as enemies of humanity and glorified by the media as ruthless killers. The very same people who are said to be terrorists are also known to be freedom fighters and they believe that they are on a higher mission of bringing salvation to their countrymen from either invading forces or from an oppressing government. One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist and thus one man’s hero is a terrorist for the other one. This meaning of the word hero leads to questions and makes the understanding of this word complicated as the word cannot be used only for specific kinds of people. This word is used by different groups of different people. (Franco et al, 2011).

In summation, after stating the definition and illustrating it with various examples it can be safely said that the new definition of heroes can be of people who perform what is necessary when it is deemed impossible and endanger not only their lives but also bring about the issue of social sacrifice. A hero does not need to fulfill any particular image and the definition of the word has changed from previous times.