Hero Essays
J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye illustrates the story of an adolescent going through a period of perception-changing times in his life. The story is told from the point of view of the main character and protagonist, Holden Caulfield, a junior in high school. Throughout the novel, Holden is going through a phase in which he realizes the “phony” nature of the people in the world. Overall, the story encompasses themes such as loss and confusion ultimately resolved with advice for finding oneself. Clearly, many young adults undergoing a paradigm shift or a maturing from adolescence can relate the book’s protagonist on a personal or even spiritual level. Because of his relatable journey, I view Holden Caulfield as a hero, not in the archetypal sense, but as a champion for those struggling to find a sense of direction in their lives. Holden’s entire character has not been fully established yet as he is still immature and has no definite plans for his future. He had been kicked out of three schools for not applying himself, and he calls people who act “fake” in real life “phonies.” However, what makes Holden Caulfield such an important character is that he is going through what many have experienced or are experiencing: the transition from childhood to manhood.
On the contrary, Holden seems to resist this transition as he was never serious about his schools. In fact, he came to the point where he thought of ending his life in chapter 14. He writes, “What I really felt like doing was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window.” Of course, many teenagers have had the same feeling, although I am an exception to this. In chapter 17, he explains to Sally everything he resented about school. “It’s full of phonies, and all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to buy a goddam Cadillac some day,” he continues. Eventually, he came up with the idea of running away with Sally up north. With this, Holden shows he has never given thought to his actual future and what he plans to be. At this part of the plot, I did not really identify myself with the character of Holden Caulfield anymore.
I on the other hand do plan on attending college for medicine. Holden in chapter 17 embodied the rebellious nature of some teenagers who, much like the protagonist, choose to run away from his/her problems.The symbolism J. D. Salinger inserts into the story can provide more to the theme. There is a recurring thought that Holden has concerning the ducks inhabiting the lagoon in Central Park in New York City and where they go when the lake freezes up. Holden brings up this train of thought in various locations. The first was in his meeting with Mr. Spencer and again on two different cab rides. The symbolism behind this is that the ducks represent himself and his refusal to adapt to a changing environment. It puzzled him how the ducks would have to move and where. This is where I can relate to Holden. Growing up and moving on is difficult, but it is necessary for life. Holden Caulfield is a hero through what he has endured and who he can emulate. I myself do not relate to him as I have already been through what he has gone through, at a lesser degree, of course, but he can be seen, by some, as an example for a refusal to adapt. He is not a hero that is perfect or super strong, but he is a hero that inspires and relates himself to the common adolescent.
The revenant is one of the realest fiction stories considering its moving storyline and use of literary devices. The riveting suspense, diction, connotation, allegory, imagery and plot are properly used. From the novel, the unimaginable story of one man’s endurances to overcome odds to survive. Empowered with the spirit of adventure but often faulted by […]
Ernest Hemingway, alongside Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner and John Steinbeck, is a shining beacon of the American literary scene. He mastered both the novel as well as the short story forms. The scope of this essay is two of his short stories – Hills Like White Elephants and A Clean Well-Lighted Place. The two stories […]
The Archetypal Quest In almost every book you read, you will find that someone always has to go on some sort of journey or quest (Rice). If you examine each quest closely, you will notice that they are all very similar (Rice). When things are used repeatedly like that, they are said to have an […]
One of the remarkable features of Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself is its adaptation of the epic poem genre. But, while classics of this genre have at their center a heroic figure, Whitman introduces a new vision of the heroic. Instead of glorifying acts of great courage and feats of tenacity and will power, the […]
Roald Dahl is one of the most widely read children’s book authors of the twentieth century. Although he wrote several forms of literature, including adult novels and essays, he is most renowned for his children’s books, including popular books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG. Beyond proving to be accessible and engaging […]
Andrew Jackson a hero? Yes, no, maybe so Andrew Jackson was neither a hero nor a villain, but still deserves to be on the 20 dollar bill. Although Andrew Jackson did many things that made him a hero, he also did things that would question that. He can be known as an American hero for […]
Tjio Wie Tay or later better known as Masagung is the founder of the Great Mountain Shop . (Born in Batavia , 8 September 1927 – died in Jakarta , 24 September 1990 at the age of 63 years) is the fourth of five children of Tjio Koan An Poppi and Tjoa Nio. His father […]
Henry Ford spent his childhood growing up on a farm located outside of Detroit, his father wanted him to grow up and become a farmer however Ford had other ideas and whilst he was at the far he studied engineering and by 17 he had left the farm and went to Detroit to study engineering. […]
Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines a hero as “A mythological or legendary figure of great strength or ability”, or “A man admired for his achievements and abilities”. Although he has his flaws, Okonkwo from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart fits this definition of a hero. As a true historical person, Okonkwo is not a mythological figure, […]
The Oxford American College Dictionary (Lindberg, ed. , 2002) defines feminism as “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men” (Lindberg 1346). Dating back to antiquity, the writer’s of history have provided stories of females deemed “feminists” or “warrior women” because they challenged the traditional views of […]
Joseph Campbell, a renowned mythologist, states that a hero is someone who sacrifices their life for a cause greater than themselves (Campbell 151). He further divides heroic acts into two categories. The first category encompasses physical bravery like engaging in courageous battles or saving lives (Campbell 151). The second category involves spiritual accomplishments where the […]
A celebrity and a hero are definitions which are poles apart and which give distinct meanings in its use. A celebrity is portrayed as a person who has developed a “star” image. On the other hand, a hero has decided to do something which does not originally present any opportunities at self-advancement. Though many use […]
1.) Why Rizal Is the National Hero- Dr. Jose Rizal is undoubtedly a conscious hero in a sense that it is clear in any of his writings that he planned his entire life meticulously, even until death. Many say that his physical anomalies are to compensate for his unparalleled intellectual gifts. He was so brilliant, […]
The classic hero in As I Lay Dying is anything by classical. However, the entire novel is anything but archetypical. Therefore, it is beyond obvious that the novel’s heroes diverge in a number of ways from the defined, classic hero. Although the Bundrens ulterior motives and desires repudiate some of their credibility in regards to […]
What is the definition of an epic hero? What makes somebody worthy of people following them? Not everybody has a hero-like character. A hero is a leader who is not only physical strength, but mental strength as well. Heroes tend to transcend their problems. Odysseus, a famous Greek epic hero, does not display all the […]
Man should have some ambition in life. When I will grow up, I want to became a soldier in order to serve my motherland. And that is my ambition in life. Among my friends, someone wants to become a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer, or a professor. But I want to become army personnel. Why? […]
According to Joseph Campbell, a universal heroes pattern “ involves a process by which the hero leaves the ordinary world of waking consciousness, enters the dark world of the supernatural, overcomes those who would destroy him there, and then returns to the ordinary, possessed of new knowledge and powers for his people” (Leeming, p. 217). […]
The Hero’s Journey is an important concept, it is the template upon which a vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbuster are based upon. Being able to analyze, understand and deconstruct the different capacities undertaken by the Hero is essential. The Hero’s Journey is a cycle made of super structures/steps which consists of both […]
The book “Things fall apart” by Chinua Achebe depicts Okonkwo as a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s definition. Okonkwo, a central character of noble birth, possesses a fatal flaw that ultimately leads to his downfall. To determine if Okonkwo fulfills the criteria of a tragic hero, we need to examine Aristotle’s four-part definition. By chapter […]
The Hero with a Thousand Faces, by Joseph Campbell, explains the characteristics of the hero’s journey. This journey consists of a hero leaving his or her ordinary world on an adventure to later return as a changed person. The movie Django Unchained tells the story of a newly freed slave, Django, in the world of […]
In the writing of Linda Seger’s “Creating the Myth” she argues that there are 10-points in creating a “hero myth”. Seger uses Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars Trilogy as her hero myth example. I will use Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, because Harry follows the 10-points that Linda Seger argues about in order […]
“And while the law of competition may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it ensures the survival of the fittest in every department.” Said by quite arguably one of the most successful entrepreneurs in this world we live in, Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was born in November 1835 in […]
