Development of a Hero
The Development of a Hero
Leslie Smith 1494000
Professor Elrod-Sadler
Core 4
19 April 2013
Today when we think of heroes most people instantly think of professional athletes or movie stars. However, fame and talent simply does not make someone a hero in my book. To me, a hero is someone who has overcome great obstacles in their life, is highly motivated, displays honesty, courage, skill, decisiveness, is dedicated to helping others, and shows humility. I am going to examine two characters, one from early Western Civilization to modern day America. When I get done discussing their traits, one can see that the values from back in the time of Othello are basically the same as modern day American values. The two men that I chose to analyze are Othello from Shakespeare’s play Othello, and a man by the name of Wes Moore, a man that I studied in Core 1. Both Othello and Wes Moore grew up in poverty and basically had the odds stacked against them. Othello, a black man from North Africa, was separated from his home and his family early in life. He grew up in exile, slavery, danger, and despair. Young Othello survived his unpromising life and made a good reputation for himself as being a skillful soldier and warrior, making him a valuable person to the Venetian government. In Venice, the Duke and the Senate pursued him for his great abilities, who put him in full martial and political command of Cyprus. Wes Moore also beat the odds. After his father died, when he was a young boy, his mother moved the family from Baltimore to the Bronx to live with his grandparents. The neighborhood that he grew up in was run down and had lots of violence and drug deals. Even at a young age Wes got wrapped up with the wrong crowd. He was a drug runner for an elite drug seller in the Bronx, and he also was known to vandalize a few places too with his graffiti. Since Wes had early academic problems and behavioral problems, his mother sent him off to military school.
Leslie Smith 1494000
Professor Elrod-Sadler
Core 4
19 April 2013
Today when we think of heroes most people instantly think of professional athletes or movie stars. However, fame and talent simply does not make someone a hero in my book. To me, a hero is someone who has overcome great obstacles in their life, is highly motivated, displays honesty, courage, skill, decisiveness, is dedicated to helping others, and shows humility. I am going to examine two characters, one from early Western Civilization to modern day America. When I get done discussing their traits, one can see that the values from back in the time of Othello are basically the same as modern day American values. The two men that I chose to analyze are Othello from Shakespeare’s play Othello, and a man by the name of Wes Moore, a man that I studied in Core 1. Both Othello and Wes Moore grew up in poverty and basically had the odds stacked against them. Othello, a black man from North Africa, was separated from his home and his family early in life. He grew up in exile, slavery, danger, and despair. Young Othello survived his unpromising life and made a good reputation for himself as being a skillful soldier and warrior, making him a valuable person to the Venetian government. In Venice, the Duke and the Senate pursued him for his great abilities, who put him in full martial and political command of Cyprus. Wes Moore also beat the odds. After his father died, when he was a young boy, his mother moved the family from Baltimore to the Bronx to live with his grandparents. The neighborhood that he grew up in was run down and had lots of violence and drug deals. Even at a young age Wes got wrapped up with the wrong crowd. He was a drug runner for an elite drug seller in the Bronx, and he also was known to vandalize a few places too with his graffiti. Since Wes had early academic problems and behavioral problems, his mother sent him off to military school.