The characteristics of a traditional hero have changed a lot since the Anglo- Saxon times. One example of this transformation is how their motivations have changed. In that period of time, heroes put their lives in risk not for the benefit of others, but for their own fame and popularity. Beowulf is a great example of this behavior. He insisted in fighting the dragon even if it meant to die and leave his people without a king. He was "most eager for fame" (Heaney) and was motivated by a desire to convince other people of his valors. On the other hand, the modern hero focus on helping others without thinking about status. Nelson Mandela once said “That was one of the things that worried me - to be raised to the position of a semi -god - because then you are no longer a human being. I wanted to be known as Mandela, a man with weakness” (Mandela). His motivation was his dream for a better society. Eventually, he became famous and honored around the world, however that was not what drove him to
The characteristics of a traditional hero have changed a lot since the Anglo- Saxon times. One example of this transformation is how their motivations have changed. In that period of time, heroes put their lives in risk not for the benefit of others, but for their own fame and popularity. Beowulf is a great example of this behavior. He insisted in fighting the dragon even if it meant to die and leave his people without a king. He was "most eager for fame" (Heaney) and was motivated by a desire to convince other people of his valors. On the other hand, the modern hero focus on helping others without thinking about status. Nelson Mandela once said “That was one of the things that worried me - to be raised to the position of a semi -god - because then you are no longer a human being. I wanted to be known as Mandela, a man with weakness” (Mandela). His motivation was his dream for a better society. Eventually, he became famous and honored around the world, however that was not what drove him to