HeroesHeroes

Why do superhero movies Why do superhero movies do so well? Why do we do so well? Why do we want heroes to be real?want heroes to be real?

What kinds of people are What kinds of people are celebrated as heroes in celebrated as heroes in our societyour society

If someone from outer If someone from outer space were to come and space were to come and see whom we venerate, see whom we venerate, what would they see? what would they see? Why?Why?

When we disagree about When we disagree about whether someone is a whether someone is a hero, what are we hero, what are we considering? Why do we considering? Why do we disagree?disagree?

What makes the heroes, What makes the heroes,

heroesheroes? ?

What is a hero? Or, better, what makes a What is a hero? Or, better, what makes a hero? We all know about the Hollywood hero? We all know about the Hollywood movie heroes ... they movie heroes ... they rush into trouble to save those they rush into trouble to save those they love. They risk their lives for others and sometimes love. They risk their lives for others and sometimes lose their own. lose their own.

Is self-sacrifice in the face of mortal danger our Is self-sacrifice in the face of mortal danger our guide? If so, there are hundreds of thousands of guide? If so, there are hundreds of thousands of heroes in our military, our police forces, our fire heroes in our military, our police forces, our fire service. service.

Or, is a hero born out of a single act of bravery -- a Or, is a hero born out of a single act of bravery -- a sudden character-testing incident in the heat of sudden character-testing incident in the heat of battle or an unexpected circumstance? battle or an unexpected circumstance?

What about the men to What about the men to the right – all who have the right – all who have been held up as heroic been held up as heroic figures…?figures…?

Perhaps there should be Perhaps there should be a moral test. Some a moral test. Some people believe Islamic people believe Islamic fundamentalist suicide fundamentalist suicide bombers are heroes. Are bombers are heroes. Are they right?they right?

What is our moral guide What is our moral guide to heroism? to heroism?

What Makes a Hero?What Makes a Hero?There are two factors that lead to people acting There are two factors that lead to people acting heroically:heroically:

The circumstances they find themselves inThe circumstances they find themselves in How they react to these circumstances – their How they react to these circumstances – their personal characteristicspersonal characteristics

What is it about certain situations which make What is it about certain situations which make certain people do great deeds, when otherwise they certain people do great deeds, when otherwise they would have continued their normal lives? would have continued their normal lives?

Why do certain people act in a 'heroic manner' when Why do certain people act in a 'heroic manner' when faced with these situations?faced with these situations?

Do 'heroes' possess any specific characteristics?Do 'heroes' possess any specific characteristics?

Nelson Mandella, fought for equal rights, imprisoned for over 25 years became South African president

Abraham Lincoln, US President during the Civil War, abolished slavery

Florence Nightingale, from a rich family, was known as 'The Lady of the Lamp' and was a pioneer of modern nursing. She revolutionized the way people were cared for, particularly in a war situation

Mother Teresa helped the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying children and people. she opened up orphanages all around the world and did most of her work in Calcutta helping people in the slums. She began the Missionaries of Charity. Its mission was to care for, in her own words, "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone."

There are about 10,000 children living with cancer in Canada today. Each year, about 1500 cases are diagnosed. In Canada, childhood cancer remains responsible for more deaths from one year through adolescence than any other disease; more deaths than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.

What is a hero? What is a hero? What are the qualities of a hero?What are the qualities of a hero?

Jung and CampbellJung and Campbell Carl Jung and Joseph Carl Jung and Joseph

Campbell developed Campbell developed the idea of the the idea of the archetypearchetype– Archetype: A recurring Archetype: A recurring

pattern of images, pattern of images, situations, or symbols situations, or symbols found in the found in the mythology, religion, mythology, religion, art, and dreams of art, and dreams of cultures around the cultures around the worldworld

Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell

Carl JungCarl Jung

They are all archetypical They are all archetypical heroes – and all possess heroes – and all possess

similar traitssimilar traits

What Do Luke Skywalker, What Do Luke Skywalker, Simba, King Arthur, Moses, Simba, King Arthur, Moses, and William Wallace all and William Wallace all have in common?have in common?

We are focusing on 9 key We are focusing on 9 key hero traits….hero traits….

1) Unusual Birth1) Unusual Birth Often in danger or Often in danger or

born into royaltyborn into royalty– Luke w/ aunt and Luke w/ aunt and

uncleuncle– Simba born a Simba born a

princeprince– Moses put in Moses put in

basketbasket– King Arthur in King Arthur in

danger from Uther danger from Uther Pendragon’s rivals Pendragon’s rivals

2) Leaves Family or Status 2) Leaves Family or Status QuoQuo

Raised away from Raised away from his peoplehis people– Luke w/ Luke w/ auntaunt and and

uncleuncle– Simba w/ Timon Simba w/ Timon

and Poobahand Poobah– King Arthur w/ King Arthur w/

MerlinMerlin– William Wallace William Wallace

with unclewith uncle– Moses w/ Pharaoh’s Moses w/ Pharaoh’s

daughterdaughter

3) Traumatic Event3) Traumatic Event A hero’s life is A hero’s life is

changed foreverchanged forever– Luke’s aunt and Luke’s aunt and

uncle’s uncle’s deathdeath– Wallace’s wife is Wallace’s wife is

killedkilled– Arthur pulls sword Arthur pulls sword

from stonefrom stone– Simba fights NalaSimba fights Nala– Yahweh appears Yahweh appears

to Mosesto Moses

4) Special Weapon4) Special Weapon Only the hero can Only the hero can

wield his weaponwield his weapon– Luke’s light saberLuke’s light saber– Arthur’s Arthur’s

ExcaliburExcalibur– Moses’ staffMoses’ staff– Wallace’s swordWallace’s sword– Simba’s ... claws?Simba’s ... claws?

5) Supernatural Help5) Supernatural Help Hero often has Hero often has

spiritual guidancespiritual guidance– Luke hears Obi-Luke hears Obi-

Wan KenobiWan Kenobi– Arthur has MerlinArthur has Merlin– Yahweh guides Yahweh guides

MosesMoses– Wallace dreams of Wallace dreams of

his dead fatherhis dead father– Simba sees Mufasa Simba sees Mufasa

in the sky and has in the sky and has Rafiki help himRafiki help him

6) Proves Himself6) Proves Himself Hero performs feats Hero performs feats

while on Questwhile on Quest– Luke blows up Death Luke blows up Death

Star, leads Star, leads rebellionrebellion– Arthur leads battlesArthur leads battles– Moses perform Moses perform

miraclesmiracles– Simba contemplates Simba contemplates

his lifehis life– Wallace leads his Wallace leads his

men against Britishmen against British

7) Journey & Unhealeable 7) Journey & Unhealeable WoundWound

Hero descends Hero descends into a hell-like into a hell-like area and suffers area and suffers wounding from wounding from encounter w/ evilencounter w/ evil– Symbolically goes Symbolically goes

where normal where normal humans can’t and humans can’t and finds truth about finds truth about selfself

8) Atonement With Father8) Atonement With Father Hero either Hero either

redeems father’s redeems father’s evil deeds or evil deeds or reconciles with reconciles with father over father over wrongs done by wrongs done by the herothe hero

9) Apotheosis9) Apotheosis Hero is rewarded Hero is rewarded

spiritually at the spiritually at the end of his lifeend of his life