The Hero In W. H. Auden's The Unknown Citizen

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Hero, the word that everyone used a lot now a day. But what’s a hero, or who is qualify to be a hero. When think of a hero, everyone thinks of a person who possesses supernatural power, who can fly and do great things. Or someone who’s always stand up for the good, and fights the bad, and would sacrificed everything for the greater good. But, is that really a true definition of hero. Is that really what a hero must be? What if someone does not fit in those category? Is he or she cannot be a hero? The truth is everyone can be a hero. A hero doesn’t have to be powerful, or doesn’t need to know how to fly. A hero can be anyone, someone as normal as a mother. Yes, she can’t fly or has an amazing power, but what she has is a tremendous love and …show more content…
H. Auden. One may ask, what makes him a hero? Does he have any power? Well, the answer is no. The man in this poem is just a normal citizen, who lives a quiet a common life as everyone else. So, what makes him a hero? The man was a soldier. He fought for his country till the war was over. He went home and lived his life without any recognition for what he has done. But, that does not bothered him. He just wanted to fit in and be normal. Despite for what he has done, he does not ask much. He follows every single law that the society set out for him “and had everything necessary to the modern man”. Stand up and ready to fight when his country needs him “when there was peace, he was for peace; when there was war, he went”. Like the father in the earlier poem, this man does not care what people might think of him. He just wants to do the right things, and do what he thinks is right. He fought for his country, protected his people and put his life on the line for those things he loved. This man and the father are truly the real definition of a hero. A hero doesn’t have to strong nor done a significant thing. A hero can simply be someone as a mother or father. Who cares and loves their kids with unconditional love. Or a normal teen, who helps an elderly walks across the road. A hero does not have to be strong or brave or have super power. A hero can be anyone, from any ages, shapes and sizes. A hero can be anyone that we see on our daily

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