An Answer to A Question

Earlier today, I posted a query; "What makes a hero?". After taking some more time to think about it (Being sick gives me that extra time I otherwise would waste on video games and homework), I've got something similar to an answer. Sofie was kind enough to leave a comment that pointed out something I, oddly enough, had been overlooking. Something important, in fact. A hero is an example to everyone, or should set some kind of standard for people to live up to. And I have to say that, this is probably one of the most defining characteristics of a hero.

You can throw in all sorts of definitions, but it all comes back to that single idea of someone you can look up to and say, "Yeah, I wanna be like that guy!" So, I suppose that means the definition of a hero varies from person to person. For the most part at least. I still think there's a universal set of characteristics that every hero possesses and should possess in order to be classified as such.

I've already mentioned Loyalty and Determination, but there's no harm in doing it again. A Hero should be loyal to himself, his beliefs, and the people he cares about. Simple, right? You'd be surprised how many people you might normally classify as a hero are really not all that loyal to themselves.

Now that's NOT to say they can't have crises of faith or whatever you want to call them. Quite the contrary; some of the best heroes have to question their beliefs now and then. "Am I really right? What if I'm doing more harm than good?" These questions should come across as a Hero's biggest enemy outside physical contact. It makes him or her doubt themselves and consider other alternatives. That's where a hero truly shines, I think. When they acknowledge the consequences of their actions, know that there's a downside to it, and that other people may very well view them as the villain and not the hero, yet still stand tall and say "No. This is my path. I know I'm right. Deep down, I know."

I think Captain America put it best during the Civil War event at Marvel. When Spider-Man asked him how he can keep going, despite the fact that the very country he represents is going against everything he's ever believed in as a person, Cap said the he has to, because "when the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world-- 'No. You move.'"

It stands to reason that one of the defining characteristics of every hero is to stick to their guns, to take the high road - even if it's the rockier one, with the steep cliffside - and prove to themselves and to everyone else that there is such a thing as objectively good and objectively bad. And they stand for that objective good. Does that link Loyalty and Determination together? I'd like to think so. You can't be loyal to your beliefs and not determined to prove them right.

Look at Batman real quick. He's loyal to his beliefs and he's determined to prove that no matter how bad things get, there'll always be someone to stand up for the people who can't defend themselves from the likes of Penguin or The Joker.


I think it's all connected. In order to inspire people, you have to have a confidence. To have that confidence, you have to be sure of yourself. To be sure of yourself, you have to be loyal to yourself and your ideals. To be loyal to them, you have to be determined to support them and those who share them, while still keeping an open mind to other possibilities.

I dunno, maybe I'm just rambling at this point. Lord knows it wouldn't be the first time my mind hasn't worked coherently or gone in anything but circles while I've been ill.

But no matter what my mental state at this point, or the coherency of this entry, I know for a fact that a Hero is someone who sees a wrong, stands up to fix it, and sticks to their guns no matter the odds. Someone who inspires. A Symbol.