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.
Tragic heroes exemplify a number of qualities including courage and some type of personal sacrifice. The character Okonkwo in the novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, demonstrates many of the characteristics of a tragic hero. However, he also exhibits many qualities not representatives of a tragic hero. There are many ways to define a […]
Everyone has a favorite superhero-yours may be clad in blue cap, shooting web out of his fingers, or saving the world with amazing turtle abilities. Two superheroes, Spider Man and Iron Man, have recently been featured in blockbuster movies. In the movies about Spider Man, he saves individuals all over the city, all while trying […]
Today, interest in the supernatural genre is mainly focused on two categories of beings, the good and the evil. There are many comic book and film heroes such as “Superman” who are good supernatural characters and fight to help the world; at the same time there are many evil supernatural beings, which mainly appear in […]
“Edward Britton”, written by Gary Crew and Philip Nelson, invites the reader to believe that the protagonist, Edward Britton, is the true hero. Hero is a person who can be looked up for their actions. They exhibit qualities of fearlessness, humility, inner strength, determination, selflessness, fortitude, conviction and helpfulness. Edward, who had great personality traits […]
According to Mikhail Lermontov, the portrayal of the Hero of Our Time is essentially that of a villain. However, it is important to note that this depiction does not refer to an individual person but instead represents the flaws and faults present in our entire generation, taken to their extreme. As Francois Truffaut once noted, […]
The film ‘Shrek’ is the first ever fairytale animation. It was hugely successful in the box office. It made 52 million dollars on its opening weekend. It’s based on a mixture of different fairytales. This film subverts the conventions of a normal fairytale in order to expose the unrealistic portrayal of the fairy tale world. […]
The two novels, Stephen King’s “Misery” and Fay Weldon’s “The Life and Loves of a She Devil”, belong to the genres of horror and romance. The distinct style in which the novels are written are recognised by the reader by identifying the several familiar conventions of each of the genres. There are different classifications of […]
‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ is ultimately a love story involving three people. Pelagia finds herself torn between two men, Dr. Iannis and Captain Corelli. Although they have different experiences during the war, both characters undergo significant transformations as a result. One could argue that either of them could be considered the hero of the novel, with […]
What might we learn from Heinrich’s story to help us become more spiritually intelligent?Being spiritually intelligent, is achieving happiness and being comfortable with the way your life is, without the greed. It is knowing what you find happiness in doing and not doing something whilst inflicted with greed, and appreciating life, your surroundings and becoming […]
William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a five-act Elizabethan drama that adheres to Aristotle’s guidelines for Tragedy. Marcus Brutus serves as the tragic hero of the play due to his elevated social status and well-intentioned nature. Unfortunately, he tragically becomes involved in the misguided assassination of Julius Caesar, resulting in a destructive path […]
TOPIC: Who is , Elesin Oba or Olunde? Please give reasons for your answer in a carefully written essay. Please use “Being, the Will, and the Semantics of Death” by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (Criticism 155-164) and “Tragedy, Mimicry, and the African World” by Olakunle George (Criticism 207-222) in your essay. The Real Tragic Hero […]
The Short Stories of Edith Wharton What is a modern heroine? My conception of a modern heroine is a woman who has integrity, puts her ideas into action, can verbally and sometimes physically spar with a man, is aware of her own emotions, and has compassion for others. She is empowered and independent, not afraid […]
A King’s Collapse Unfortunately, in almost everyone’s lifetime, either a tragic event or a series of tragic events can be found, and in some cases, more than others. Many people define a tragic hero as someone who performs a heroic act but dies in the process. However, this statement is incorrect; instead, a tragic hero […]
Vivian Bearing: A Tragic Heroine that Triumph Margaret Edison’s play Wit is about Vivian Bearing, a professor of seventeenth century poetry, specializing in John Donne. She is a strong willed intellectual being treated for ovarian cancer. Vivian lives a very secluded life and avoids human emotional contact. Just like any tragic hero, Vivian has flaws […]
Thomas Moore is an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, now best remembered thanks to the Irish Melodies. Thomas Moore was born on 28 May 1779 in Dublin, Ireland. His father had a small grocery shop, he was an Irish speaking Gaeltacht; and Thomas Moore’s mother was from Wexford. From early childhood, he displayed a talent for […]
“My heart longs to be home, my comrades’ hearts as well” (Homer 10. 533). With a strong desire to reach his homeland after twenty years away, Odysseus leads his crew through the difficulties and obstacles they encounter. Odysseus is not only a strong warrior, but he also perseveres in his journey and treats his guests […]
Roger Rosenblatt in his essay “The man in the Water” describes how the heroic passenger in the air crash was determined to put his life on the line to save others. The man in the water dedicates all his strength to save the others in the water, handing over the lifeline and rope each time […]
So begins Beowulf, one of the oldest surviving works of literature in English. Poet-singers sang about remarkable deeds of an immortal hero named Beowulf for centuries. The voice of the epic poem still resounds today. Beowulf tells about the life and accomplishment of a revered hero – its titular character. In the poem, Beowulf, a […]
The cost of idealism is evident in the lives of various historical and literary figures. Despite possessing a comfortable life with respect, a loving wife, and friends, Brutus willingly sacrifices everything to uphold his ideals, ultimately paying the price with his own life. This theme resonates throughout both history and literature. Prominent examples include Socrates, […]
The Anglo- Saxons had Beowulf. The Greeks had Ulysses. The Americans had Paul Bunyan. Every culture has its own hero, and each hero has many different qualities that make them stand out from the rest. Beowulf is the representation of an Anglo- Saxon hero and Thor is the reflection of a modern day hero. Although […]
The poem “American Hero”, a poem written by Essex Hemphill, is about a black basketball player. Hemphill uses imagery in this poem. “It’s a shimmering club light / and I’m dancing, slick in my sweat. ” (5-6) this is a metaphor about the basketball, saying that it was a disco ball. “Everyone hollering / is […]
As the main character in the Greek classic “Antigone,” Creon undergoes recognition and a reversal of fortune. Recognition is defined when the main character changes from ignorance to awareness. Reversal of fortune is described as a turn in fortune, usually from good fortune to bad fortune. Creon is also a better fit to Aristotle’s criteria […]
