User:AndraHarris/sandbox

Andra Harris Professor Paquette English 2205 April 13, 2015 Heroes or Zeroes Who would you say is your hero? How would you define hero? Would you even label someone as a zero? As for me, I can’t say that I would label or consider anyone to be a zero. But, I can think of several people whom I would consider as being a hero. I’m sure many people have different ideas of what it means to be a hero. Some may say that a hero is someone who is admired for their courage or achievements while also serving as a positive role model. Others may say a hero is someone who risks their own life so that others may live. However, a hero can be any person who shows courage or bravery when faced with adverse situations. I believe at some point in our lives we all have been a hero to someone. Heroes are individuals who are able to help others in various ways. But contrary to your beliefs, all heroes are not courageous or brave. It is sometimes a moral obligation or something inside of them that prompts them to act in situations even though they are afraid. According to the Webster Pocket Dictionary and Thesaurus, hero is defined as a “figure of mythology and legend renowned for exceptional courage and fortitude.” (V.Nichols) In literature, most of the heroes are mythological. These heroes possess certain characteristics which make them heroes. I have noticed that the hero is usually a male. Most mythological heroes seem to always have help from guides. The guides may be a god or goddess to help with safety or the fulfillment of prophecy or a quest. They always seem to embark on adventures or quest which poses a possible threat or danger. The heroes always encounter a friend along the way. I have noticed that the heroes are human and come from a mysterious background. These are just some of the characteristics that I have noticed about mythological heroes. In the “Epic of Gilgamesh”, Gilgamesh was a hero. What makes him a hero is all of his accomplishments. In the beginning of the tale, Gilgamesh is described as the “heroic offspring of Uruk”.(Puchner) We learn firsthand that he has endeared many hardships and has surpassed many kings. He is described as being a leader who defends his people and perfect in strength. Although he is human, he is also two-thirds “divine.” (Puchner)Gilgamesh was “singled out from the day of his birth”, which could only mean that he was destined to be great. His body was perfect and he was exceptionally handsome.(Puchner) Those were just a few of his good qualities, but like anybody else he had some issues. Despite all of the good fortune that he has, he still desires more. Gilgamesh’s people loved him but they were also tired of the way that he treated them. He would leave “no son to his father” nor “no girl to her mother.” (Puchner) He would have sons always competing in tiresome activities and the young maidens were at his disposal. He was the epitome of a bad ruler. The people became tired of his ruthless ways and prayed to the gods for help. There was no one in the land who could compare to Gilgamesh so they prayed for the gods to create a partner for Gilgamesh. They asked for someone “mighty in strength” to contend with Gilgamesh so that can have peace.(Puchner) The gods create Enkidu, an equally handsome and strong contender. However, things did not go as the people hoped that they would. Although, Enkidu did challenge Gilgamesh but they ended up becoming friends. Now with a companion equal in stature, they embarked on a number of adventures. Gilgamesh’s accomplishments show that he is not only brave and courageous but he is indeed a hero. His acts of heroism include defeating the monster Humbaba who lived in the cedar forest. The monster would scare the people and not allow passage through the forest. In this situation he is considered to be a hero because he was not afraid to jeopardize his life for the sake of others. Another act of heroism was when he climbed Mount Mashu. It was believed that this mountain was impossible for any human to climb. He is considered a hero again because he was afraid when the odds were stacked against him. Next, he killed the Bull of Heaven. Again, he is considered a hero because he wisely rejected Ishatar’s advances. This demonstrates the he not only defeated the bull, but also showed some wisdom when faced with temptation. Finally, he discovered the solution to death. He found the “plant of eternal life.”(Puchner) When he found the plant he immediately thought of his people instead of thinking of himself which makes him a hero because he was willing to give up his safety, well-being and immortality for a greater good. And all these things meet the requirements of a hero. Another character that I would consider to be a hero is Odysseus. In the beginning of the Odyssey, Odysseus is referred to as a “cunning hero.”(Pucnher) Odysseus went on this journey because he wanted to protect his family and the country that he ruled, Ithaka. He demonstrates heroism because he too, risked his life for others. He was brave and courageous because he faced many dangers while defending his country. He was already considered a hero because he “plundered Troy’s sacred heights.(Puchner)” He defeated those of Troy but had yet to return home to his family. Another act of heroism from Odyssues is when he saves himself and his men from the Cyclops. He was a brave and courageous leader because he lead his men through many dangerous situations. His cunning ways and intelligence helps him to outsmart the Cyclop, but like Gilgamesh he too has issues. His intelligence level drops when he taunts the Cyclops. At first he told Polyphemus that his name was Nobody or Noman. But after the escaped he cannot help but to reveal his true identity while boasting and bragging about how he came out victorious. Another act of heroism is when Odysseus makes the journey through Hades, or the underworld in order to question the dead prophet about his own fate. He risks his life once again because it is very dangerous. He could have been forced to remain in the underworld because there was no guarantee that he would ascend back into the land of the living. His other acts of heroism include escaping Calypso, the beautiful nymph, freeing his men from the Lotus Eaters, and helping them escape the land of the Sirens. Finally, he returns home but disguises himself as a beggar to scope out the competition. He does this so that he will know what he is up against when he takes revenge on all the suitors who have disrespected his household over the years while he has been away. Like Gilgamesh, Odysseus was highly favored by the gods. But, he was disliked by one god in particular, Poseidon who made it impossible for him to return home. Odysseus had been away from his homeland for many years. He had been away for so long many believed that he was dead. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, favors Odysseus so much that she went to her father, Zeus on his behalf. “He’s suffered so long separated from his dear ones.”(Puchner) With her father’s permission she appears at Odysseus’s house. She appears as Mentes, a friend of Odysseus. Odysseus was a good leader and his wife and son missed him dearly. His son Telemachus longed for his father to return home so that all of his mother’s suitors could leave before they were left without anything. “Suitors of my mother –you arrogant pigs- for now we are at feast.” (Puchner)They suitors would stay at Odysseus’s palace all day and night and while they were there they tried to eat and drink up his fortune. Although Odysseus longed to return home he did some horrible things while he was away. He stayed with goddesses whiles lost at sea but he also longed to return to Ithaka if for nothing more but to tell everybody all the things that he had done and claim his rightful place as king. In conclusion, Gilgamesh and Odysseus are true heroes. They both possess of some the characteristics that would make them heroes. They have risked their lives for both personal gain and for the good of others. They have displayed tremendous acts of bravery and courage while facing adverse situations. Both men have accomplished things that were not humanly possible and lived to tell about it. Although Odysseus was not half human and half god like Gilgamesh but he did have godlike qualities. “No other mortal has a mind like his or offers sacrifice like him to the deathless gods in heaven.”( (Puchner) If only in real life heroes of this magnitude could exist many the world would be a better place.

Works Cited n.d. Puchner, Martin. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. V.Nichols. Webster's Pocket Dictionary and Thesaurus. Allied Publishing Group,Inc, 2005.