The concept of heroism has some basic tenets that remain constant throughout works of literature, the main idea being that heroes do good works. However, the definition of good varies in Plato and Homer’s literature, as Plato advocates for good that benefits society as a whole and Homer tends to favor more individually focused heroism. Plato’s depicts Socrates as a hero creating an “ideal” city where individuals give up certain rights for the good of the collective. Socrates, in Plato’s novel, aims to employ heavy censorship and place limits on citizens in almost every aspect of their lives. These actions, however restrictive they may seem to the reader, are what Plato believes creates a good and harmonious society. For example, in order
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Odysseus was deeply concerned about his crew and Achilles ended up returning to battle in the end despite knowing his fate, yet in then end, their main motivation was their own success and the pursuit of glory. The good that they accomplish as heroes is mainly self serving, yet because the readers know them as people, specifically brave, strong, and usually intelligent people, they are defined as heroes. Heroism, in Homer’s stories, also has a lot to do with having traits that are exemplary and aspirational in regular people. Achilles’s strength and Odysseus’s intelligence are admirable traits that extend beyond the reach of regular people. Both characters have some relation to the divine Gods, and, despite having flaws, they represent the ideals that existed in society during that time. In a Homeric story, being a hero meant achieving glory and greatness beyond what the average person could ever achieve, and this type of heroism is extremely individualistic.
Conversely, Socrates as a hero is not concerned about himself or his own fate. Instead, he concerns himself with the fate of others and society. His pursuit to improve upon humanity and create something ideal that benefits the most people is what classifies him as a hero, and his persona and individual characteristics are almost irrelevant in classifying him as heroic. His intentions to create a perfect society and his ideas on how to achieve the best life for the most people are what make Socrates a hero in Plato’s novel, not who he is as a person. Heroism, to Plato, has much more to do with
Odysseus was deeply concerned about his crew and Achilles ended up returning to battle in the end despite knowing his fate, yet in then end, their main motivation was their own success and the pursuit of glory. The good that they accomplish as heroes is mainly self serving, yet because the readers know them as people, specifically brave, strong, and usually intelligent people, they are defined as heroes. Heroism, in Homer’s stories, also has a lot to do with having traits that are exemplary and aspirational in regular people. Achilles’s strength and Odysseus’s intelligence are admirable traits that extend beyond the reach of regular people. Both characters have some relation to the divine Gods, and, despite having flaws, they represent the ideals that existed in society during that time. In a Homeric story, being a hero meant achieving glory and greatness beyond what the average person could ever achieve, and this type of heroism is extremely individualistic.
Conversely, Socrates as a hero is not concerned about himself or his own fate. Instead, he concerns himself with the fate of others and society. His pursuit to improve upon humanity and create something ideal that benefits the most people is what classifies him as a hero, and his persona and individual characteristics are almost irrelevant in classifying him as heroic. His intentions to create a perfect society and his ideas on how to achieve the best life for the most people are what make Socrates a hero in Plato’s novel, not who he is as a person. Heroism, to Plato, has much more to do with