Hero

A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or fictional character who faces danger and does brave things to help others. Heroes use clever ideas, courage, or strength.

In old stories called epics, heroes did brave things to earn glory and honor. Today, heroes do kind and brave actions to help everyone, not just for fame or money. The opposite of a hero is called a villain.

Heroes appear in many stories and history books. In classical literature, they are the main characters in famous poems. The idea of a hero has changed over time. Today, a hero is someone we admire for doing brave or kind things. Heroes can be from myths, like Gilgamesh and Iphigenia, or from real life, such as Joan of Arc, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Sophie Scholl, Alvin York, Audie Murphy, and Chuck Yeager. They can also be made-up characters known as superheroes, like Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman.

Etymology

The word hero comes from the Greek ἥρως (hērōs), meaning a hero. It is linked to protection, with one theory saying it comes from a root meaning "to protect." The female version, heroine, comes from a Latin word and was first used in English in 1587 to describe strong and powerful women from myths and legends.

Antiquity

See also: Greek hero cult

Classical heroes were strong warriors who lived for honor and glory. They were very skilled, like Achilles and Hector. These heroes fought in big battles and dangerous quests, showing great courage. They were sometimes seen as half-gods, with special powers given by the deities. Their stories helped people learn about bravery and the importance of choices.

Myth and monomyth

The idea of a "Mythic Hero Archetype" was first talked about by Lord Raglan in his book from 1936, The Hero, A Study in Tradition, Myth and Drama. He found 22 common traits in heroes from many cultures, myths, and religions. Raglan said the more of these traits a person has, the more likely they are to be a mythical hero.

Joseph Campbell talked more about this in his 1949 book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. He described a common pattern in hero stories called the monomyth or Hero's Journey. This journey has three main parts: Departure, Initiation, and Return. On this journey, the hero might get a call to adventure, find help from a magical guide, face many challenges, and learn more about themselves. Campbell used stories like those of Krishna, Buddha, Apollonius of Tyana, and Jesus to show how this pattern appears in many different cultures. He also looked at how some heroes have both male and female qualities, making them balanced and complete characters.

Slavic fairy tales

Vladimir Propp studied Russian fairy tales and found that they often have eight main characters. One of these is the hero. His ideas help us understand many different stories.

In these tales, the hero often goes on a journey. They face challenges from a donor. Sometimes, the hero marries a princess or another important character.

Propp also described two types of heroes: seekers and victim-heroes. Victim-heroes start their adventure because a villain causes trouble, like taking someone away. Seekers begin their journey because they want to find something they need or because someone close to them has been taken. These stories usually focus on one type of hero, not both.

Historical studies

Further information: Philosophy of history and Great man theory

Philosophers like Hegel and Thomas Carlyle thought that heroes and great leaders change history. They believed important people, such as Napoleon, had big effects on the world. Some heroes were thinkers, writers, or business leaders, like captains of industry.

Later thinkers, such as Karl Marx and Herbert Spencer, said history is more about big changes in society, not just great people. Modern heroes like Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, and Mahatma Gandhi are remembered for helping change society. Today, some scholars study how heroes affect history in new ways.

Modern fiction

Further information: Vanity Fair (novel) and Superhero

In modern stories, the word "hero" can describe the main character or someone special to others, even if they aren’t very strong or perfect. For example, in the book Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, the main character isn’t a typical hero. Another book, Vanity Fair, is called a “Novel without a Hero” because it shows a world where it’s hard to find truly good people.

Superheroes are very popular today, especially in comic books and fantasy stories. They often have amazing powers, like flying or being super strong, and they fight against bad guys called super villains. Famous superheroes include Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Spider-Man. These characters appear in many movies, toys, and video games that people enjoy around the world.

Psychology

Social psychology looks at heroes and what makes someone a hero. Researchers like Zeno Franco and Philip Zimbardo study how people think about heroes. They say that taking big risks is important to be called a hero.

Psychologists say that heroes are often brave, honest, and care about others. Heroes can inspire people and help those who need protection. Some believe that acting like a hero might be a way to show strength and kindness. Heroes help us learn about good choices, morals, and safety in stories and in real life.

Mental and physical integration

Author and endurance researcher C. McDougall studied resistance fighters on Crete during the Nazi occupation in WWII. He found that their success was linked to the heroes of Ancient Greek stories. He showed how training the body and mind can help people find hidden strength, endurance, and agility.

McDougall used the example of Theseus. Even though he was weaker than the Minotaur, he defeated it using pankration, an ancient martial art. Pankration means "total power and knowledge." It was used by gods and heroes who won by using all their skills.