Debating Hero-Status Is A Delicate Matter Analysis

Jimmy Wright
Mrs. Dixon
English 102
April 9, 2014

Anybody can be a Superman

As humans, we tend to overlook certain things and assume there is an easy answer for them, such as the question “What is a hero?” While, at first glance, it seems like an easy question to answer, the answer is not that simple. Some might say Superman, some might say Batman, and some might even say Barney or Mom and Dad, but the reality of it is that even those answers do not expose the truth and the beauty of what it means to be a hero. However, as said in the article, “What Makes a Hero? Debating the Status is a Delicate Matter,” “Debating hero-status is a delicate matter, because, who wants to argue that a person so acclaimed does not deserve the title?” (Dribben).
According to the Mike Dilbeck, in his blog, “What really is a Hero, Anyway?” a hero is a person with the ability to transform compassion into heroic acts. Heroes are a network of people taking action on behalf of the needs of others or in defense of integrity or a moral cause (Dilbeck). In today’s society, it is also vastly recognized that a person who sets a good example can most easily be considered a real, true hero. According to the study done in “What is a Hero? An Exploratory Study of Students Conceptions of Heroes,” “The findings of our research appears to show that students are in fact identifying with those people who demonstrate moral excellence, and not those who have been lifted up by society through glitz and glamour,” (White, and O’Brian 10) which reinforces my conception of a true hero. Heroes who physically save lives are not the only heroes who save lives at all – a person who sets a good example can, indeed indirectly save lives. Phil Knight says, “Heroes inspire the common man to lift himself. I really believe that.” Knight’s hero is his college track coach, who lifted him up and inspired him to constantly better himself for his future (What is a Hero?). People living in the twisted world that we live in today need guidance and receiving that guidance can be a person’s
The true definition of a true hero is very dense and requires some deep analysis. As eloquently stated by American tennis player, Arthur Ashe, “True heroism is remarkably sober – very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." (Dilbeck). Any person who has the urge within them to serve others, do good, inspire, and demonstrate moral excellence deserve a title as a hero to mankind, and many types of people can be described as having this character. There are very many different types of heroes in the world and millions of them – the one, dominant thing that they all have in common is moral excellence.

Works Cited

Dillbeck, Mike. “What Really is a Hero, Anyway?”. (2014). Web. 9 Apr. 2014
Dribben, Melissa. "What Makes a Hero? Debating the Status is a Delicate Matter." Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) 12 Apr. 2012: Newspaper Source. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.
Hansberry, Lorraine. “A Raisin in the Sun.” Literature and the Writing Process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X. Day, Robert Funk, and Linda Coleman. Boston: Pearson, 2014. 979-1033. Print.
"What Is A Hero?." Esquire 130.5 (1998): 104. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.
White, Steven H., and Joseph E. O 'Brien. "What Is A Hero? An Exploratory Study Of Students ' Conceptions Of Heroes."