Benedict Arnold: A True Hero

Desiring recognition and the feeling of pride brings a fullness in life so if you were to not being given the proper recognition, if you were utterly ignored, if you were tossed aside and others received credit for your very own work, is if you were faced to choose between taking the high road and becoming a better human being or would you act out in vengeance? Benedict Arnold’s historical acclaim is often associated with the traitor activity, by examining the experiences with Arnold, Americans are able to appreciate his leadership prior to his betrayal; his character is really revealed through his past and all that he accomplished for his beloved country.

Benedict Arnold was a general during the Revolutionary War, whom fought for the American army but eventually betrayed them and fought for the British. Included in this report will be his biographical information, the major events and people in his life which influenced him to become the person he was, and why he was important. I will be using this information to explain what made him a leader.

American Heroes were inspired by Greek Tragic Heroes, yet both are very different from each other, but American Heroes have very similar traits to those who are Contemporary Heroes.  An American Hero is a person who seeks justice and always defeats the enemy which results in all people having the justice they deserve.  American Heroes also tends to protect all and has the tendency to fall in love with the “ damsel in distress”.  This type of hero goes about his daily life, just like anyone else would, until it is time to fight, and at that time, their “supernatural” powers shine through in their fighting techniques.  On the other side, all Tragic Heroes possess a flaw that will change their life from a life of happiness to a life of pain and despair.   Ordinarily, Contemporary Heroes have nearly the same traits as American Heroes.  Contemporary Heroes save and protect many individuals from violence and harm and lives a normal life until they have to face another obstacle.  Both American and Contemporary Heroes are able to celebrate their victories, while Tragic Heroes can not do so because they are not victorious.

The life of Benedict Arnold, is a legendary American story, about military victory, dishonor, and treason. In many ways, Benedict Arnold was a hero, a member of the sons of liberty, who rose to the rank of general, and won historic battles during the Revolutionary war. If Benedict Arnold was killed in the battle of Quebec, history would have remembered him very differently. However, Benedict Arnold succumbed the great moral dilemma of greed, which ultimately tarnished his image in American minds. Because of his deceit his military triumphs were forgotten, and replaced with being remembered as a great American traitor. However, to fully understand why Benedict Arnold turned his back on America, a careful examination of his early life, revolutionary war contributions, and decision to join the English Crown is required.

So who is Benedict Arnold? A patriot? A traitor? We need to stop classifying Benedict as a traitor and start classifying him as a man who made mistakes. But at the end of the day his patriotism amounts to more than his

Benedict Arnold is a name known throughout America as a name that directly relates to a traitor. Everyone knows he betrayed his country, but not many know exactly why. No one betrays someone or something without a reason and this is the same with Benedict Arnold. In this paper I’m going to discuss his life and events leading up to his betrayal and his untimely death. This is the story of Benedict Arnold the revolutionary traitor.

Benedict Arnold, in the beginning, was a lucrative merchant in New Haven, Connecticut. Arnold served in the Continental Army, working with soldiers like Ethan Allan, to achieve the capitulation of Fort Ticonderoga (1775). In 1776, he led one of two columns that invaded Quebec; and in the same year, October of 1776, Arnold, as a Brigadier General, stopped Guy Carleton at the Battle of Valcour Island. Thus, as a major general, he was and important part of the American victory at Saratoga. After that climatic point, his career began to terribly deteriorate. After Arnold's second marriage, his debt grew; He was inequitably belittled by political adversaries, and felt that he was unappreciated by his fellow Americans. Peradventure for these

“’Money I this man’s god and to get enough of it he would sacrifice his country,’” a member of the Green Mountain Boys proclaimed (Aaseng 21). This comment is no coincidence considering Arnold betrayed the American Colonies during the American Revolution. Benedict Arnold is one of the most well-known traitors in American history. However, before he sided with the enemy, Arnold was one of the greatest generals in the Revolution. Many may say the British may have won the war without the key role Arnold played during the Revolution (Aaseng 13). There were many actions that may have made Arnold a true hero, however Arnold betrayed his country and there are many theories on his motivation for his betrayal.

Benedict Arnold was a traitor since it was his own idea to sell information to the British in exchange for money. Arnold wasn’t approached by the British since they thought he would be a good spy, he approached them because he wanted to be the spy they needed. Joseph Stanbury, who acted as Arnold’s messenger, told the British intelligence officers that Arnold told him “under a solemn obligation of secrecy, his intention of offering services to the commander-in-chief of the British forces” (Sheinkin 231). Arnold offered his services to the British commander instead of being asked for them. He reached out on his own will to betray his country in exchange for a higher social rank and money.

Major General Benedict Arnold is without a shadow of a doubt the most intriguing and infamous general in American History, perhaps remembered by most as the infamous American traitor. His bravery, superior tactical skills, greed, need for self-preservation, lust, and jealousy all contributed to him being considered by various sources to be the most heroic and villainous character in all of American History.

Do you know who Benedict, Arnold is? If you don’t that is a stunning result because Benedict is part of our military and countries history. He is known an American traitor due to the fact that he went to support the French in their fight with America after fighting with the French for so long. Benedict had turned intelligence about the American fortress that controlled the Hudson River. He had released valuable information about the fort for it would be able to be over run because, who, who had control of that fortress had control of the Hudson River and who, who had control of the Hudson River controlled The Revolutionary War.

Benedict Arnold is mostly known for being a traitor. He was born January 14, 1741. How he became involved in the American Revolution, how he fought for America, and why he betrayed America for Britain are some of his accomplishments. He started his life as a loyal American. Later he became one of the most infamous traitors in history.

Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. His mother was born into a rich family, while his father had to work his way up to her status. At a young age, (the exact date is unknown) he quit school to become an apothecary apprentice and earn more money for his mother, father, and ten other siblings. Arnold served in the military during the French and Indian war before the revolution. He was married to Margaret Mansfield in 1767, and they had three children before she died of sickness. In 1779, he married Peggy Shippen, and they had five more children. He was one out of the two children in his family to survive into adulthood. He betrayed America in the war, killing several Americans. He was America’s first big traitor.

Most espionage cases involve two things: a foreign connection and an insider threat. Many factors lead to a trusted individual having no alternative than betraying his or her own country. John Andre was the foreign connection in this instance, and Benedict Arnold being the insider threat that had no alternative but to commit treason and become the United States most famous traitor. Benedict Arnold had a laundry list of indicators that made him an attractive target to the likes of the British. Arnold was the second most important General in the American Army, and that type of person should get the praise they deserve, and Arnold did not receive that praise. Arnold had numerous battle victories, including Saratoga, possibly his most famous, but still felt like the Americans did not appreciate his value. On top of that, Arnold was not being paid for his efforts as a General in the Continental Army. Many spies and traitors in the history of the United States generally have financial troubles compounded among other indicators. When someone feels they are having financial troubles they look for another way to make a source of income and being a spy or traitor seems to be a method to accomplish that goal. If Benedict Arnold had been treated fairly and received proper compensation, both monetarily and respectfully, Andre never would have had the insider threat needed to accomplish his mission.

Heros in stories are often invincible, if not juggernauts; Deus ex Machina makes sure of that. In real life, by contrast, has no author that can pen the hero in for an exemption of death. War though, in any case, works to the disadvantage of everyone, and doesn’t get that much accomplished. Most soldier’s hands are dirtied at some point, and most people are, to a greater or lesser extent, deal with the mire of the most uncouthly of endeavours. People who come back from war, still with the hope that their country, the world over, can change its ways, and quietly protests the belligerency of their leaders, are the true heros. Anyone who merely comes back from war, or doesn’t, can’t really be considered a hero, because the real enemy, is the need to have one. The two conditions to have when questioning the viability of the hero status, are: