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Hero

 

            
             Heroes are envisioned to be super humans who have the ability to accomplish near impossible tasks that no one else, or few people, have done before. Inventors, religious figures, political leaders and veterans who have survived wars are all considered to be heroes. In The greatest Man in the World, Smurch is visualized as a hero because he is supposed to be the first man to have flown around the world without stopping. In How to Tell a True War Story, Kiley thinks that Lemon died a hero because Lemon's spirits remain buoyant in the terrors of war. In i sing of Olaf and big, Olaf is admired for dying with his believes. The "i" in the title is not capitalized, and this emphasizes how "i" is small compared to Olaf. The Fish may also be thought of as a hero because it managed to escape death five different times.
             Once established as heroes, they become role models for other people to look up to, and are expected to be modest, upstanding, educated citizens who are respected and happy in the society. Unfortunately, in reality heroes are only normal human beings who also have flaws and makes mistakes. This is seen clearly in The greatest Man in the World, where the media has to conceal Smurch's past, " the story of his life cannot be printed." (Pg174) People cannot believe that "a slightly built, surely, unprepossessing young man of twenty-two chewing a great quid of scrap tobacco" (Pg173) can be a hero because his description contradicts the illusions of heroes being upstanding citizens who are upper class and have a clean-cut image. Smurch, a man who chews and spits tobacco juices, and drinks a great deal of gin is definitely not a role model for anyone who wishes to have great respect. Richard Cory may also be regarded as a hero. He is admired and extremely wealthy, he is "richer!.
             than a king" (pg943, line9) but when he kills himself, people are shocked because why would someone, who is so respected and admired, take his own life? When he breaks the illusion of being a hero, the people are confused.


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