Nelson Mandela As A Hero Essay

Improved Essays
Today 's society cannot find a standard definition of a hero due to the great variety of personal interpretations regarding what a hero is. As an example, one may think a famous athlete is a hero because of how he inspires other people who come from his same background to dream big. Another person may look at a classmate as a hero for having the courage to stand up for himself and confront the bully who has been harassing him since third grade. While there are many different concepts of what a hero is, it’s safe to say that almost everyone agrees that heroes are brave people who transform compassion into heroic action, people who take action on behalf of others and become the best versions of themselves for the good of humanity (Sigma). Although both Beowulf and Nelson Mandela are great examples of this, Mandela is a better hero because of …show more content…
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

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Joseph Campbell, the creator of the Hero’s Journey archetype, once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Heroes are important because they put others before themselves. They’ll risk their lives to help others. This paper will tell you what the definition of a hero is using the following methods: Function, Example, and Negation. Frederick Douglass is a great example of a hero.…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” (Christopher Reeve). Hero’s often find themselves in situations where they must sacrifice themselves in pursuit of the better good. Beowulf was defined by his strength, valor, and boastfulness which allowed him to embody the ideals of a hero during the Anglo-Saxon time period. Today the heroes are not marked by their pure strength or boastfulness but rather their courage, outstanding achievements, and noble qualities.…

    • 1337 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Achilles vs Beowulf Modern heroes today are people who put themselves in front of others in a though situation. Audie Murphy won the medal of honor, “fought in nine major battles, killed an estimated 240 Germans.” The evolution of heroes are people who don’t follow. They lead men into battle. They are also extremely independent, making their own discoveries, and are stopping something terrifying.…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    “…A hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people” (Maya Angelou; American author, poet, and civil rights activist). The world is filled with many epic characters, movie stars, and other people that are considered to be heroes: one of them is Odysseus. However, many of Odysseus’ actions brought forth the fact that he was not heroic. A hero is selfless, humble, and a good leader that has many admirable values and. While Odysseus, did not have those qualities.…

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over the centuries, the concept of a hero has changed immensely. Scott LaBarge, ethics professor at Santa Clara University, said that the Greeks thought “a hero was a mortal who had done something so far beyond the normal scope of human experience that… he deserved worship like that due the gods.” Now, heroes are anything from firefighters to war heroes, when previously they were warriors and kings. Beowulf, an epic hero of the sixth century, is unquestionably different in comparison to his counterpart, Katniss Everdeen, Hemingway and epic heroine of The Hunger Games. An epic hero completes noble and brave deeds but also appreciates being rewarded for his/her actions.…

    • 1224 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Atticus Finch Heroism

    • 1925 Words
    • 8 Pages

    We are introduced to many heroes in our lifetime, but many people view a hero in countless ways. Heroes are different from each other, but all follow the path of greatness to reach their goals. Different heroes are unique in their own ways. Heroes may be viewed in many ways and not necessarily just the average hero who is expected to save the world, but they can also assist a person when dealt in a situation of loneliness or the incapability of protecting oneself. This is a great example of Juror 8 in 12 Angry Men.…

    • 1925 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf Epic Hero Essay

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Heroes are significant figures in everyone’s life. Heroes can range from family members to fictional characters. In the epic “Beowulf”, the main character, Beowulf, proved himself as being the epic hero. His qualities reflected the Anglo-Saxon culture. The culture revolved around braveness and good deeds of their leader.…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Define Heroism In Beowulf

    • 193 Words
    • 1 Pages

    There are many arguments to what a hero must be and what qualities they must have. The superheroes that cover comic books can lift cars with a finger and carry massive buildings without strain. What if the qualities that make up a hero are not as herculean as we may fantasize? In the grand tale of Beowulf, the main character shows how acts of character defines a hero. Beowulf’s eagerness to defeat evil, willingness to use one’s talent to help others, and courage to risk one’s life to save others show the eternal characteristics of heroism that are still treasured today.…

    • 193 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A Hero in the Making Beowulf is a great epic of Anglo-Saxon society. Beowulf is a great example of a hero that acts out of selflessness. It is truly intriguing to see his transformation into a warrior. We see him make some incredible journeys throughout this amazing epic. Beowulf is a traditional epic hero from Anglo-Saxon society, because he is brave, represents selflessness, and has an enormous amount of strength.…

    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After receiving a law degree from the University of Witwatersrand, Mandela became involved in the political scene of South Africa with the ANC, or the African National Congress. The national party was made up of Afrikaners passed laws in which banned black people from holding positions within the government. The Afrikaners were the minority of upper class White South Africans. They mostly descended from British or Dutch ancestry. Mandela, along with ANC, started peaceful protests, dubbed the "Defiance Campaign".…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Impact of Nelson Mandela Racism has been challenged by the accomplishments of Nelson Mandela as described by the article, “Nelson Mandela remembered: ‘He achieved more than could be expected of any man’,” published in Chicago Tribune on December 6, 2013. Nelson Mandela was born in racially controlled South Africa with the intentions of making it equal. The minority white had almost all control of the socio-economic and political power of South Africa. Nelson went on a journey throughout his country to assemble a group of people who did not believe in the government anymore. Consequently, he was thrown in jail for his actions after being charged with treason.…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Nelson Mandela was the first ever south african activist, he was aswell a former president from 1918 till 2013 he was one of the men who brought an end to apartheid as well a global supporter for human rights his decisions for fighting for what he believed was right landed him in prison for nearly three decades. He suddenly became an idol and was made the face to the anti apartheid movement within his country and internationally. He was released in 1990. He became the first black president in south africa in 1994. He retired from politics in 1999.…

    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What do you think makes a hero, a hero? When reading stories such as Beowulf and Spiderman, you will encounter bravery, death, honorship, and heroism. There are many similarities between the brave soldier, Beowulf, from Beowulf, and the neighborhood superhero, Spiderman, though there are also prominent differences. Both of these characters are put under pressure in precarious situations and struggle to survive a battle, all while refusing to sacrifice their pride and honor.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Human Traits In Beowulf

    • 1369 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Throughout literature, every culture has created their own idea of the perfect man and hero. These cultures were trying to formulate a man who could fight in wars, slay dragons, and rule a country all at the same time. For the Anglo-Saxon people, this ideal hero meant a hero that housed superhuman abilities, the bravery of a lion, a royal background, and glory beyond belief. From the time the reader meets Beowulf; he exhibits the Anglo-Saxon qualities of an epic hero that include superhuman abilities, above average bravery, and excessive glorification of his deeds.…

    • 1369 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mandela spent mostly his whole life searching for crucial situations to meet his goal and he used non-violent behaviors and peaceful deeds to treat others even the prison’s guardians. This is also what Martin Luther King response was based on, peace and non-violence. The starting point was his unforgettable and recognizable speech”I have a dream”, were he gathered around quarter million people in Washington, D.C who aimed for having freedom and equality in all areas of life. This is was the turning point for black people to live a better life. He began…

    • 1009 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics