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The Evolution of the Hero

The Evolution of the Hero. A Multi-Modal Essay by Max Delawyer and Kenton Freemuth. Introduction.

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The Evolution of the Hero

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  1. The Evolution of the Hero A Multi-Modal Essay by Max Delawyer and Kenton Freemuth

  2. Introduction The hero is arguably the most important and central theme in a story or work of literature. Heroes are, in short, the focus of the story. The author’s portrayal of the hero is key in not only grabbing the reader, but defining and setting the tone of the story as a whole. The literary portrait of the hero has morphed and evolved throughout history , leaving modern day readers with a varied library list of timeless protagonists. As new stories surface nearly every day, the hero continues to evolve and become even more varied and multidimensional. Through an examination of different heroes from various works of literature, this Multi-Modal Essay will address the question: How and why has the hero changed throughout history and literature, and what are it’s prevailing characteristics?

  3. Odysseus from Homer’s Odyssey • “Man of many wiles…” • “Godlike Odysseus, most astute of men…” (Book 1) • “Divine Odysseus…” (Book 13) • In his ancient epic, The Odyssey, Homer depicts Odysseus as a man apart, godlike, in his actions and demeanor.

  4. Okonkwo from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart • “His fame rested on solid personal achievements” (Part One, Chapter 1). • “His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness” (Part One, Chapter 2). • Okonkwo, a both revered and feared man in his African village, becomes an exile and must fight for his status and his dying culture.

  5. Inman from Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain • "All through the mess of the field hospital and the long grim train ride south in a boxcar filled with wounded, he had agreed with his friends and the doctors. He thought he would die” (Chapter 1) • Frazier’s civil war hero Inman, is both a broken and tired man. Propelled only by his need to return to his love Ada, Inman is a modern Odysseus, but less godlike.

  6. Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger’s TheCatcher in the Rye • “I hope to hell when I do die somebody has sense enough to just dump me in the river or something” (Chapter 20). • “… you felt like you were disappearing every time you crossed a road” (Chapter 1) • Holden Caulfield, though only a teenager, posses both a cynical outlook on life and a keen social perspective. A chronic complainer, it is up to the reader to decide whether or not his social perception is outshined by his teenage demeanor.

  7. Harry Potter from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series • “Harry had always been small and skinny for his age” (Sorcerer’s Stone, Chapter 2). • Harry Potter, a seemingly average boy in both appearance and later magical talent, is a reluctant hero. With destiny forced upon him, Harry must face evil head on and learn the task of hero.

  8. The Differences… As is seen, the hero is vastly different in many works of literature. From the archetypal and mighty Odysseus, to the troubled and deeply emotional Holden Caulfield, literary heroes take on many different molds in their respective stories. The question is, why? ?

  9. Archetypal vs. Relatable When we imagine the hero, often times images ofboth physical grandeur and gallant demeanor come to mind. The archetypal hero is extraordinary, supreme, godlike in some cases. Odysseus, for example, fits this mold perfectly. His “godlike” persona and courageous leadership define him throughout his story. Though, they are pretty much all we read about. Homer succeeds in painting the picture perfect archetypal hero, but he essentially fails in revealing any other side of Odysseus to the reader. Essentially, the Greek hero is little more than a one dimensional god. Is this a flaw?

  10. Archetypal vs. Relatable As literature would soon show, the answer is a resounding yes. Heroes of all shapes, sizes, and personalities, soon sprung up in stories, each varying from the last. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, we are told the story of Ibo clansman and exile Okonkwo, a man of both extreme physical valor and social status, but also strong temper and a troubled background. Achebe’s depiction of Okonkwo gives an unbiased, in depth look at a two sided man.

  11. Archetypal vs. Relatable The multidimensional hero trend is one that manifests itself differently with every story. Cold Mountain’s Inman, and Catcher in they Rye’s Holden Caulfield, like Okonkwo, are both portrayed as conflicted personas. However their personalities themselves are far from the same. Inman, a tired and broken civil war soldier, wants nothing more than to return to his love, Ada, while Caulfield, a young and cynical teenager, wanders aimlessly through most of his story, with no particular purpose. In Harry Potter, we see perhaps the best example of a regular hero. Reluctant in accepting his position, Harry is a regular kid in both his demeanor and to and extent, his abilities. However, this trait, much like Caulfield’s social commentary and Inman’s weary descriptiveness, lends itself to Harry Potter being a relatable, if not multidimensional hero.

  12. What matters? (Conclusion) What then, are the most important qualities of a hero? As readers, we are drawn to heroes for various reasons. And in some cases, we may not even our heroes because of their personalities. Are heroes supposed to be archetypal? Or are they supposed to be human, in other words, relatable? As literature has shown, there is no right answer. The only thing heroes cannot be is all the same. As readers, we are drawn to different elements and different stories, as is seen in the vast success of each of the presented stories. The long literary list of multidimensional and differing heroes is directly due to the differing tastes and dimensions of both the readers and the authors who create the stories. Heroes, undoubtedly the center piece of many a story, are as different as the tale that revolves around them. And rightfully so.

  13. Bibliography (Books) • Hómer, Hómer, Robert Fagles, and Bernard Knox. The Odyssey. 4th ed. New York, NY: Penguin Classics, 1997. Print • Achebe, Chinua. Things fall apart. Columbus, OH: Anchor, 1959. Print. • Frazier, Charles. Cold Mountain. 1st. New York, NY: Vintage Contemporaries, 1998. Print. • Salinger, Jerome. The catcher in the rye. Little, Brown and Company, 1991. Print. • Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter. 1st. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books , 2000. Print.

  14. Bibliography (Pictures) • Odysseus. Web. 07 December 2009. <www.pantheon.org/.../greek_people/odysseus.jpg> • Things Fall Apart. Web. 07 December 2009. <http://daniel9012.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/thingsfallapart.jpg> • Inman. Web. 07 December 2009. <http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2226559232/ch0009331> • Holden Caulfield. Web. 07 December 2009. <http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs33/f/2008/301/9/4/Holden_Caulfield_by_alexaaaaa.jpg> • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Web. 07 December 2009. <http://bestlittlebookshelf.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/harry_potter_and_the_sorcerers_stone.jpg>

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