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A True Hero In Oedipus The King And Beowulf

Good Essays

The great and mighty Hercules once said, “A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.” The word hero comes from the Greek, literal meaning of “protector” or “defender”. A great example of a tenacious protector is Beowulf, “Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats - greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world,” (Beowulf 195). He was a man, who was beloved and looked up to by his people; a noble warrior at heart. On the other hand, there are kings, like Oedipus, who can be heroes and highly regarded just because of their societal status. Since ancient times heroes have been a quintessential part in all societies: from the poverty and slums of Africa to the proud, flourishing Hollywood. They have been around for so long that these role models have made a stereotype for all aspiring, or natural born heroes. In the fictional examples of Oedipus the King and Beowolf, heroes of high stature demonstrate essentiality to exemplifying and exhibiting the foundation of a culture; nonetheless, modern society’s hero, although needed to set a standard as to what people should look up to as the ideal human being, cannot be defined due to the inconsistent changes of the society’s values, attitude, and beliefs. In order for a society, or culture, to thrive and grow it needs consistent values that are steady and dependable. Without set standards or social norms communities and societies would be in total chaos. Societal

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