heroes of our time essay

A Hero of Our Time

By mikhail yurevich lermontov.

A Hero of Our Time Summary

A Hero of Our Time is a novel, but can be more aptly described as a Preface, five short stories, and a Foreword placed between the second and third short stories. The five short stories center on Pechorin, a young Russian officer serving in the Caucasus. Below are quick summaries of each of the sections in the novel.

Lermontov, the novel's author, describes his reasoning for creating the Preface. He states that the current population needs messages to be spelled out for it. He denies the claim that he portrayed himself through Pechorin. He mocks critics who are horrified by Pechorin and the contents of the novel. He tells them that they have been exposed to far worse literary characters.

This short story is a frame narrative. An unnamed narrator , who is traveling through the Caucasus Mountains, encounters Maxim Maximych , an old officer. They converse and travel through the mountains together. When they seek shelter due to a blizzard, the old officer tells the unnamed narrator a story about a young officer, Pechorin. The unnamed narrator listens intently. In Maxim Maximych's story, Pechorin is enamored with a native girl named Bela. He barters with Bela's younger brother, Azamat . He promises to help Azamat steal a local tribesman's horse in return for Bela. In the end, both men obtain what they desire. Azamat gets his horse and runs far away with it while Pechorin gets Bela. At first, Bela rejects Pechorin, but then she soon falls for him. Their happiness, however, does not last long. The horse's owner, Kazbich , seeks revenge for his stolen horse. Since he is unable to punish Azamat, he kills Bela's father, and then mortally wounds Bela. Bela dies two days after her injuries are obtained. Pechorin is transferred elsewhere soon after. The story ends here. In the present time, Maxim Maximych's baggage slows his cart down. He is unable to keep up with the unnamed narrator's ride. They decide to separate, not expecting to meet each other again.

Maxim Maximych

This short story picks up where the first story ends. The unnamed narrator and Maxim Maximych are reunited. Maxim Maximych's baggage had not slowed him down too much. The two characters are happy to see each other again, but they encounter a rude servant at the place in which they are lodging. After a few questions, Maxim Maximych discovers that the servant's master is Pechorin. The old officer is overwhelmed with joy due to this discovery. He tells the servant to pass his name along to Pechorin. The servant grudgingly agrees to the request. Maxim Maximych waits for Pechorin, but Pechorin does not come. The next day, the unnamed narrator encounters Pechorin. He sends someone to fetch Maxim Maximych and urges Pechorin to wait. Maxim Maximych is disappointed with his reunification with Pechorin. Pechorin refuses to dine with him and refuses to take back his personal documents. Maxim Maximych had held on to the documents when Pechorin had left them behind, thinking that they meant something to Pechorin. Maxim Maximych throws the documents on the floor after Pechorin leaves him in the dust. The unnamed narrator picks up the journals, and he and Maxim Maximych part again the next day, this time for good.

The unnamed narrator informs the reader that Pechorin is dead and alludes to the fact that the next few stories are taken directly from Pechorin's journal. The unnamed narrator continues the Foreword by describing his reasoning for publishing these contents. He finds Pechorin to be an intelligent, introspective, and unusually honest individual and believes that contents from Pechorin's journal will benefit society. The unnamed narrator also states that only contents pertaining to Pechorin's stay in the Caucasus will be published. Certain reasons, which he does not reveal, stop him from disclosing information outside of Pechorin's adventures in the Caucasus.

This is the first story in the novel told through Pechorin's perspective. Pechorin has a short stay in the coastal town, Taman. He is unable to find lodgings and resigns to staying in a small hut on the very edge of the sea. Upon requesting to speak to the master of the house, a blind boy creeps out of the darkness and informs him that the old woman who owns the hut and the shack beside it has gone to the village, and she is not currently available. Pechorin stays in the hut, but he cannot sleep. He sees a shadow pass by his window and follows it. It is the blind boy making his way to the beach. At the beach, Pechorin witnesses what seems to be a smuggling enterprise involving the blind boy, a young woman , and a man named Yanko . The next morning, he confronts the blind boy and the old woman, who has returned from the village. They him give no answers. He encounters the young woman after he leaves the old woman and the boy. After he questions her and gets nowhere, he tells her that he will tell the authorities what he witnessed the night before. The young woman tells him to meet her in the middle of the night at the beach. He agrees to her request. He goes to the beach and gets on a boat with her. They go far out onto the sea. There, she kisses him and attempts to drown him. Pechorin escapes by throwing her overboard. On his way back to the hut, Pechorin sees the young woman, but she does not see him. She survived the sea. Pechorin decides to spy on the young woman. He witnesses her escaping with Yanko. They leave behind the blind boy and the old woman. Pechorin leaves Taman the next morning. He does not alert the authorities to the events that transpired for fear of being ridiculed.

Princess Mary

Shortly after arriving in Pyatigorsk, a spa town, Pechorin encounters an army acquaintance, Grushnitsky . Pechorin and Gushnitsky dislike each other, but they are cordial with each other. Grushnitsky shows interest in a young woman of noble birth, Princess Mary. The young woman is visiting Pyatigorsk with her mother, Princess Ligovskoy . Pechorin decides to entertain himself with the romance that he sees transpiring between Grushnitsky and Princess Mary. He knows that Princess Mary will soon grow tired of Grushnitsky. Pechorin eventually decides to seduce Princess Mary for three main reasons: to satisfy his vanities, to destroy Grushnitsky's happiness, and to communicate with Vera , a lost love and a member of Princess Mary's inner circle, without arousing suspicions. He succeeds in winning Princess Mary's heart, even though he has no romantic feelings towards her. Grushnitsky retaliates against Pechorin for this betrayal with the help of a dragoon captain who Pechorin had infuriated in an early part of the story. Grushnitsky and Pechorin fight a duel. Pechorin kills Grushnitsky. In the end, no one receives a happy ending, not even Pechorin who has outwitted everyone. He loses Vera.

The Fatalist

Pechorin's last adventure takes place in a Cossack village. Pechorin and some of his army peers have a conversation on predestination. Pechorin's peers are divided on the issue. Some tell tales that support predestination, and others recount stories that disprove it. Vulich , an old officer and a known gambler, claims he has a way to solve the question. He gambles with his life to prove that predestination exists. He holds a gun to his head and shoots. The gun misfires. The other officers assume that the gun was not loaded. Vulich aims the gun again, this time at a wall. The gun fires a bullet into the wall. Everyone is intrigued, and Vulich collects his gold coins from Pechorin, who had betted against him. Half an hour after this incident, Vulich dies. A drunk Cossack slices him in half. Pechorin learns about Vulich's death when he is summoned to help apprehend the murderer, who has barricaded himself in a cottage. Pechorin risks his life to apprehend the Cossack. He succeeds with just a slight graze from a bullet. The last scene of the story involves a conversation between Pechorin and Maximych. Pechorin recounts his experiences in the Cossack village and tries to have a conversation with Maxim Maximych. The old general offers no real discourse -- he is not good at "metaphysical discussions" (157).

GradeSaver will pay $15 for your literature essays

A Hero of Our Time Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for A Hero of Our Time is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for A Hero of Our Time

A Hero of Our Time study guide contains a biography of Mikhail Yurevich Lermontov, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

About A Hero of Our Time
Character List

Essays for A Hero of Our Time

A Hero of Our Time essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Yurevich Lermontov.

Nihilism in A Hero of Our Time and The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea
Pechorin and Bazarov: the Fatal Power of a Cynic in Love
The Power of Bias
Lermontov's Paradox: An Analysis of Pechorin
Conflict in Russian Literature

Wikipedia Entries for A Hero of Our Time

Introduction
Grigory Alexandrovich Pechorin
Cultural references
Screen and stage adaptations

Essays About Heroes: 5 Examples And Topic Ideas

Here, we’ll look at examples of essays about heroes and questions that can be used as topics for essays about an imagined or real hero.

A few different images likely come to mind when you hear the word hero. You may imagine Superman flying above the world with his superpower of flight. You may imagine a personal hero, a real person who has made a significant impact on your life for the better. You might think of a true hero as someone who has shown heroic qualities in the public eye, working to help ordinary people through difficult situations.

When writing an essay about your life hero, it’s important to consider the qualities of that person that make them stand out to you. Whether you choose to write an essay about how your mom got you through tough times and became your role model or about a political figure who made a difference in the lives of people in history, it’s key to not just focus on the person’s actions—you’ll also want to focus on the qualities that allowed them to act heroically.

Here, we’ll explore examples of hero essays and potential topics to consider when writing about a hero.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers

Examples Of Essays About Heroes

1. These Are The Heroes Of The Coronavirus Pandemic By Ruth Marcus
2. Why Teachers Are My Heroes By Joshua Muskin
3. Martin Luther King Jr.—Civil Rights Activist & Hero By Kathy Weiser-Alexander

4. Steve Prefontaine: The Track Of A Hero By Bill O’Brian

5. forget hamilton, burr is the real hero by carey wallace, topic ideas for essays about heroes, 1. what makes a hero, 2. what are the most important characteristics of heroes in literature, 3. what constitutes a heroic act, 4. is selflessness required for heroism, 1. these are the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic by ruth marcus.

Examples of essays about heroes: These Are The Heroes Of The Coronavirus Pandemic By Ruth Marcus

“Is this what they signed up for? There is some danger inherent in the ordinary practice of medicine, but not this much. I confess: I do not know that I would do the same in their circumstances; I am not sure I am so generous or so brave. If my child were graduating from medical school, how would I deal with her being sent, inadequately protected, into an emergency room? If my husband were a physician, would I send him off to the hospital — or let him back into the house in the interim?” Ruth Marcus

Healthcare workers have had no choice but to go above and beyond in recent years. In this essay, Marcus discusses the heroism of those in the healthcare field. He delves into the traits (including selflessness and courage) that make doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers heroes.

2. Why Teachers Are My Heroes By Joshua Muskin

“Teachers are my heroes because they accept this responsibility and try extremely hard to do this well even when the conditions in which they work are far from ideal; at least most do. Our jobs as society, education systems, and parents is to do our best to be strong allies to teachers, since their success is essential to ours.” Joshua Muskin

In this essay, Dr. Muskin discusses the many challenges teachers face and what parents, administrators, and education researchers can do to help teachers support students. Muskin explains that most teachers go above and beyond the call of duty to serve their classrooms.

3. Martin Luther King Jr.—Civil Rights Activist & Hero By Kathy Weiser-Alexander

“During this nonviolent protest, activists used boycotts, sit-ins, and marches to protest segregation and unfair hiring practices that caught the attention of the entire world. However, his tactics were put to the test when police brutality was used against the marchers, and King was arrested. But, his voice was not silenced, as he wrote his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to refute his critics.” Kathy Weiser-Alexander

In this essay, Weiser-Alexander details both the traits and the actions of Dr. King before and during the civil rights movement. The author touches on King’s commitment to justice, persistence, and willingness to stand for his beliefs despite difficult circumstances.

“I remember this so vividly because Prefontaine was a hero to me, a hero in a way that no one was before, or really has been since. A British commentator once called him “an athletic Beatle.” If so, his persona was much more Lennon than McCartney. Actually, I thought of him more as Mick Jagger — or ultimately James Dean.” Bill O’Brian

A hero to many in the running world, Prefontaine’s confidence, unique style, and unmatched athletic ability have been heralded for decades. In this essay, O’Brian shares how he, as a distance runner during the era of Pre, related to his struggles and ambition.

“Burr fought against an ugly tide of anti-immigrant sentiment in the young republic, led by Hamilton’s Federalist party, which suggested that anyone without English heritage was a second-class citizen, and even challenged the rights of non-Anglos to hold office. In response, Burr insisted that anyone who contributed to society deserved all the rights of any other citizen, no matter their background.” Carey Wallace

In this essay, Wallace explains why Aaron Burr, the lifelong nemesis of founding father Alexander Hamilton, should be considered a historical hero. This essay exposes someone seen as a villain but much of society with a different take on their history.

It can be interesting to think about your definition of a hero. When describing what the term hero means to you, you may want to choose a person (or a few people) you look up to as a hero to solidify your point. You might want to include fictional characters (such as those in the Marvel universe) and real-life brave souls, such as police officers and firefighters.

A word of caution: stay away from the cliche opening of describing how the dictionary defines a hero. Instead, lead-in with a personal story about a hero who has affected your life. While talking about a public figure as a hero is acceptable, you may find it easier to write about someone close to you who you feel has displayed heroic qualities. Writing about a family member or friend who has shown up as a heroic main character in your life can be just as exciting as writing about a real or imagined superhero.

From Beowulf to Marvel comics, heroes in literature take on many different traits. When writing an essay on what trait makes a hero come alive in a short story, novel, or comic, choose a few of your favorite heroes and find common themes that they share.

Perhaps your favorite heroes are selfless and are willing to put themselves last in the name of sacrifice for others. Perhaps they’re able to dig deep into the truth, being honest even when it’s hard, for the greater good. There’s no need to list endless heroes to make your point—choosing three or four heroes from literature can be a great way to support your argument about what characteristics define heroism in literature.

When someone is named a hero in real life, we often picture them saving people from a burning building or performing a difficult surgical operation. It can be difficult to pin down exactly what constitutes a heroic act. When writing about what constitutes a heroic act, think about people who go above and beyond, performing feats of courage, honesty, and bravery to support themselves or others. When writing about what constitutes a heroic act, discuss real-life or literary examples of heroes at work.

To many people, being a hero means giving back to others. While giving something away or trading in one’s well-being for others can certainly be seen as a heroic act, many people wonder if selflessness is required for heroism or if a hero can serve the greater good in a way that also supports their happiness. When writing about whether selflessness is required for heroism, choose examples from literature and real-life to support your point.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

If you’re still stuck, check out our available resource of essay writing topics .

Amanda has an M.S.Ed degree from the University of Pennsylvania in School and Mental Health Counseling and is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. She has experience writing magazine articles, newspaper articles, SEO-friendly web copy, and blog posts.

View all posts

A Hero Of Our Time

50 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Preface-Book 1

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

The Narrator

The narrator and protagonist of Books 1 and 2 is an unnamed member of the Russian military travelling through the Caucasus mountains on government business. He is a young man and has been serving in the region for a year, but his name, personal details, and history remain unspecified.

When Maksim Maksimych asks about his post, instead of providing the details, the narrator says: “I told him” (8). Withholding this information indicates that the narrator will be more of an observer than the principal actor in the story. His narrative function is to establish the frame story , which was a convention of 19th-century fiction, especially when the story revolved around found documents, such as the diary or papers of someone who was no longer present. This set-up creates both an air of mystery and authenticity because the story is being presented by a disinterested party who presumably has no reason to falsify events.

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

7,550+ In-Depth Study Guides
4,850+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
Downloadable PDFs

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Featured Collections

View Collection

Historical Fiction

Safety & Danger

School Book List Titles

Heroism: Why Heroes are Important
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
Focus Areas
More Focus Areas

Why Heroes are Important

The impact of role models on the ideals to which we aspire.

When I was 16 years old, I read Henry David Thoreau's book Walden for the first time, and it changed my life. I read about living deliberately, about sucking the marrow out of life, about not, when I had come to die, discovering that I had not lived, and I was electrified. Somehow he convinced me that living deliberately meant becoming a philosopher, and I have not looked back since. And I try as often as I can to remind myself of Thoreau's warning to all philosophy professors: "There are nowadays professors of philosophy, but not philosophers. Yet it is admirable to profess because it was once admirable to live. To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust. It is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically, but practically." If - horrible thought - I should fail to earn tenure here, I would largely blame that damned quotation. But even if that disaster should strike, I know I would find solace by asking how Henry would respond to such a setback, and I know I would be a better man by following his example. Thoreau is one of my dearest heroes, and I do not know who I would be without him.

The term "hero" comes from the ancient Greeks. For them, a hero was a mortal who had done something so far beyond the normal scope of human experience that he left an immortal memory behind him when he died, and thus received worship like that due the gods. Many of these first heroes were great benefactors of humankind: Hercules, the monster killer; Asclepius, the first doctor; Dionysus, the creator of Greek fraternities. But people who had committed unthinkable crimes were also called heroes; Oedipus and Medea, for example, received divine worship after their deaths as well. Originally, heroes were not necessarily good, but they were always extraordinary; to be a hero was to expand people's sense of what was possible for a human being.

Today, it is much harder to detach the concept of heroism from morality; we only call heroes those whom we admire and wish to emulate. But still the concept retains that original link to possibility. We need heroes first and foremost because our heroes help define the limits of our aspirations. We largely define our ideals by the heroes we choose, and our ideals -- things like courage, honor, and justice -- largely define us. Our heroes are symbols for us of all the qualities we would like to possess and all the ambitions we would like to satisfy. A person who chooses Martin Luther King or Susan B. Anthony as a hero is going to have a very different sense of what human excellence involves than someone who chooses, say, Paris Hilton, or the rapper 50 Cent. And because the ideals to which we aspire do so much to determine the ways in which we behave, we all have a vested interest in each person having heroes, and in the choice of heroes each of us makes.

That is why it is so important for us as a society, globally and locally, to try to shape these choices. Of course, this is a perennial moral issue, but there are warning signs that we need to refocus our attention on the issue now. Consider just a few of these signs:

o A couple years ago the administrators of the Barron Prize for Young Heroes polled American teenagers and found only half could name a personal hero. Superman and Spiderman were named twice as often as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, or Lincoln. It is clear that our media make it all too easy for us to confuse celebrity with excellence; of the students who gave an answer, more than half named an athlete, a movie star, or a musician. One in ten named winners on American Idol as heroes.

o Gangsta rap is a disaster for heroism. Just this week, director Spike Lee lamented the fact that, while his generation grew up idolizing great civil rights leaders, today young people in his community aspire to become pimps and strippers. Surely no one wants their children to get their role models from Gangsta rap and a hyper materialistic, misogynistic hiphop culture, but our communities are finding it difficult to make alternative role models take hold.

o And sometimes, the problem we face is that devotion to heroes is very strong, but directed toward the wrong heroes. In the Muslim world, Osama bin Laden and his like still have a widespread heroic appeal. We can tell how we are doing in the struggle for Muslim hearts and minds by the degree to which this continues to be true.

So what must we do? How should we address the problem? Part of the answer is personal. It never hurts us to remind ourselves who our own heroes are and what they represent for us, and to ask ourselves whether we are doing all we can to live up to these ideals. Not long ago there was a movement afoot to ask always, "What would Jesus do?" I'd like to see people asking questions like that, about Jesus or others, all the time. I confess I get a little thrill every time I see a protest poster asking, "Who would Jesus bomb?" That's heroism doing its work, right there. Moreover, those of us who are teachers - and all of us are teachers of our own children at least - have a special opportunity to introduce heroes to those we teach. And teaching about heroes really isn't hard; heroic lives have their appeal built in, all we need to do is make an effort to tell the stories. I assure you, the reason those students didn't choose Lincoln and King and Gandhi as heroes was not that they had heard their stories and dismissed them. It is our job to tell the stories. Tell your students what a difference people of courage and nobility and genius have made to the world. Just tell the stories! We should recommit to that purpose. Start by going home tonight and listing your five most important heroes.

But part of the answer to our problem is broader. It is clear that the greatest obstacle to the appreciation and adoption of heroes in our society is pervasive and corrosive cynicism and skepticism. It was widely claimed not long ago that 9/11 signalled the end of irony, but it is clear now that the reports of irony's death were greatly exaggerated. This obstacle of cynicism has been seriously increased by scandals like the steroids mess in Major League Baseball, by our leaders' opportunistic use of heroic imagery for short term political gain, and by the Pentagon's stories of glorious soldiers like Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman that - by no fault of the soldiers involved - turned out to be convenient fabrications.

The best antidote to this cynicism is realism about the limits of human nature. We are cynical because so often our ideals have been betrayed. Washington and Jefferson held slaves, Martin Luther King is accused of philandering and plagiarizing, just about everybody had sex with someone they shouldn't, and so on. We need to separate out the things that make our heroes noteworthy, and forgive the shortcomings that blemish their heroic perfection. My own hero Thoreau had his share of blemishes. For instance, although he was supposed to be living totally independently out by Walden Pond, he went home to Mother on the weekends. But such carping and debunking misses the point. True, the false steps and frailties of heroic people make them more like us, and since most of us are not particularly heroic, that may seem to reduce the heroes' stature. But this dynamic pulls in the other direction as well: these magnificent spirits, these noble souls, amazingly, they are like us, they are human too. And perhaps, then, what was possible for them is possible for us. They stumbled, they wavered, they made fools of themselves - but nonetheless they rose and accomplished deeds of triumphant beauty. Perhaps we might do so too. Cynicism is too often merely an excuse for sparing ourselves the effort.

Again, the critical moral contribution of heroes is the expansion of our sense of possibility. If we most of us, as Thoreau said, live lives of quiet desperation, it is because our horizons of possibility are too cramped. Heroes can help us lift our eyes a little higher. Immanuel Kant said that "from the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made." That may well be true. But some have used that warped, knotted timber to build more boldly and beautifully than others, and we may all benefit by their examples. Heaven knows we need those examples now.

Register and Join Us on May 2nd!

On the multifaceted ethical issues presented by brain implants and AI, and efforts to address them.

Ronna Romney McDaniel, the chair of the Republican National Committee, speaks during the first day of the Republican National Committee convention Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Charlotte. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

NBC reversed itself on the hiring of Ronna McDaniel after the network’s top anchors mounted a revolt on air. We need a pro-democracy standard.

Renewing a call for careful social media sharing

On navigating the turbulent flows of deepfakes, data voids, and availability cascades.

Content Search

Philippines + 1 more

Who are the real-life heroes in the time of COVID-19?

HCT Philippines

Attachments

Preview of Final Op-Ed World Humanitarian Day 2020.pdf

By Gustavo Gonzalez

On World Humanitarian Day (WHD), 19 August, we celebrate and honor frontline workers, who, despite the risks, continue to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need. On this day, we also commemorate humanitarians killed, harassed, and injured while performing their duty. This year’s theme is “Real-Life Heroes”.

But, what does it mean to be a hero? What does it take to help those in need, the poor and at-risk communities, those who are most vulnerable when a disaster strike? Why should we hold up as heroic the deeds of those who everyday continue to extend a helping hand?

As I write this, I am mourning the death of a UN colleague. He died last Friday, struck down by COVID-19, at the age of 32. As a team member of the UN’s Migration Agency, he showed exemplary dedication and commitment to the situation of migrants amidst this pandemic.

He was a true frontline hero, and he is not alone.

In these extraordinary times, and despite the very real danger to themselves, Filipino front line workers, like my fallen colleague, everyday put their own safety and well-being aside to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.

In the Philippines, every day since the beginning of the year, humanitarian workers have stood on the front lines dealing with the challenges arising from COVID-19 and other disaster events, like the displacement from the Taal Volcano eruption, the damage wrought by Typhoon Ambo, as well as continuing relief efforts in Marawi City and responding to those affected by the Cotabato and Davao Del Sur earthquakes. Despite the many risks, humanitarians continue to do their work, diligently and selflessly providing assistance to those who need it most.

Through years of responding to various emergencies and capitalizing on national expertise and capacity, the humanitarian community in the country has embraced a truly localized approach by recognizing what at-risk communities themselves can do in these challenging times. The private sector in the Philippines has also stepped up in sharing its resources and capabilities, joining with other humanitarian actors to support affected local governments and communities.

As we give recognition to local real-life heroes, we also need to protect and keep them free from harassment, threats, intimidation and violence. Since 2003, some 4,961 humanitarians around the world have been killed, wounded or abducted while carrying out their life-saving duties. In 2019 alone, the World Health Organization reported 1,009 attacks against health-care workers and facilities, resulting in 199 deaths and 628 injuries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled an important number of vulnerabilities as well as exposed our weaknesses in preventing shocks. It has also shown that the magnitude of the challenge is exceeding the response capacity of any single partner or country. It represents, in fact, one of the most dramatic calls to work together. The success of this battle will greatly rely on our capacity to learn from experience and remain committed to the highest humanitarian values. Our real-life heroes are already giving the example.

On 4 August, a revised version of the largest international humanitarian response plan in the country since Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 was released by the United Nations and humanitarian partners in the Philippines. Some 50 country-based UN and non-governmental partners are contributing to the response, bringing together national and international NGOs, faith-based organizations as well as the private sector.

COVID-19 might be today’s super-villain, but it does not deter our real-life heroes from doing their job and tirelessly working to find ways to combat the threat and eventually beat the invisible nemesis. We mourn the thousands who have lost their lives to the virus across the globe, including my colleague whom I have spoken of.

At the same time, we join Filipinos in upholding—in the midst of great adversity-- the tradition of celebrating the best of human kindness, generosity, social justice, human rights, solidarity and Bayanihan spirit. We celebrate what makes our front liners and humanitarian real-life heroes. We salute them for continuously putting their lives on the line, despite the risks and uncertainties.

Their efforts must not be overlooked or forgotten.

Mabuhay ang Real-life Heroes! Happy World Humanitarian Day!

Gustavo Gonzalez is the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines

Explosive Weapons Monitor: Monthly update for February 2024

Explosive weapons monitor 2023.

World + 2 more

Fragments: Explosive Weapons Monitor Quarterly (Vol. 2, Issue 1, March 2024)

Explosive weapons and the children and armed conflict agenda.

The time has come to change our model of heroism

Heroes are not just mythical creatures

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Paolo Gallo

A hand holding a looking glass by a lake

.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;color:#2846F8;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{font-size:1.125rem;}} Get involved .chakra .wef-9dduvl{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-9dduvl{font-size:1.125rem;}} with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale

Stay up to date:.

Does modern society still have heroes?

While I was writing The Compass of Success , I asked around 200 people this question, and one thing surprised me about the answers.

To start with, everyone talked about famous actors or singers, athletes, or TV personalities, yet very few people brought up politicians or cultural figures such as writers or artists. But when the question changed to "Who are your heroes," all the answers changed too.

Lots of people mentioned a parent and many more said a grandparent, a teacher from the past, an old friend or a colleague. So basically the responses shifted from the spotlight of publicity to the true light of reason, the light of the heart.

It’s as if we accept a model of an empty, artificial model of heroism, but in our hearts we reserve a place for a person who’s dear to us, someone who may not ever be famous, as our personal hero.

Narcissism to courage

So I think we need to reconsider our role models to reprogram who we want to emulate: people we respect because of their ethical values and morals, not based on how many followers they have on social media, or how much they earned from the umpteenth display of narcissism on TV. So what are the criteria for choosing our heroes?

Heroes have the courage of their convictions . In other words, these people are consumed by their ideals; they’ve been imprisoned or even killed for what they believe in. Does that mean we have to follow the same path? Heroic as it may be, it certainly isn’t very appealing. But I’m convinced that we are all potentially heroes.

A hero is that middle-aged man who loses his job, and along with it his identity, yet he has the willpower to get back in the game, starting all over again from scratch, with dignity, until he makes it. A hero is that single mother, widowed or divorced, driven by a strong sense of responsibility, who manages to go on, day after day, so she can provide a brighter future for her kids. Heroes are young people fighting to get a job, or to stay in school, or to open a business or a start-up, despite an unemployment rate that strikes fear in their hearts.

Heroes are those workers who break their backs for a decent wage, working the night shift, taking the same tram for 30 years every morning at five. They are the cleaners who diligently do their job before 8 am and after 8 pm so we find our offices clean and tidy. Heroes are those immigrants who come from faraway places, and who perform menial tasks with pride, even though they’re qualified as lawyers or teachers in their home countries; they send their families everything they earn. Heroes are adopted children who were abandoned at birth, or children whose parents are divorced, yet they manage to keep their faith in adults, in their love, in life. Heroes are the social or religious workers who help the disenfranchised, the forgotten, the invisible.

Heroes are doctors, professors, judges, nurses, police officers who take responsibility for our health, our safety, the education of others, often for a modest salary. They are entrepreneurs who manage to run their companies and provide jobs for people who deserve to work, often despite endless bureaucratic headaches, or in some cases threats from organized crime rings. Heroes are survivors of terrible tragedies who strive to help others who share a similar destiny, teaching them that they too can overcome hard times. They are journalists or artists who use their art and knowledge to tell a story, to shine a light, to serve and encourage others.

Daily dignity

Heroes are people who protect our environment and our artistic treasures from unscrupulous opportunists. They are retired people who get miserly pensions after 40 years of work, but still manage to live with dignity and dedicate themselves to being grandparents. Heroes are people who walk through life on their own paths with their heads held high, without giving up their self-respect or their identity, despite the discrimination they suffer because of their sexual, religious, racial or political preferences. Heroes are the people who don’t accept exploitation, organized crime, corruption, scams, or games where the rules are rigged against those who deserve to win. They are people who volunteer their time to help neglected seniors, exploited women, forgotten children, convicts, prostitutes, and people who are all alone.

The time has come to change our model of heroism. This means that being a hero is no longer a mythical classification reserved for super heroes in comic books, or a few legendary men and women, or worse still, peacocks who spend all their time strutting in front of the mirror or under the spotlight. Instead, being a hero becomes a way of life: we don’t need heroic acts, but daily dignity. Our work becomes not just a job, but our most profound and authentic identity.

I’m convinced that you’re a hero too, or you’re about to turn into one.

Don't miss any update on this topic

Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

The Agenda .chakra .wef-n7bacu{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-weight:400;} Weekly

A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda

.chakra .wef-1dtnjt5{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;} More on Leadership .chakra .wef-17xejub{-webkit-flex:1;-ms-flex:1;flex:1;justify-self:stretch;-webkit-align-self:stretch;-ms-flex-item-align:stretch;align-self:stretch;} .chakra .wef-nr1rr4{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;white-space:normal;vertical-align:middle;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:0.75rem;border-radius:0.25rem;font-weight:700;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;line-height:1.2;-webkit-letter-spacing:1.25px;-moz-letter-spacing:1.25px;-ms-letter-spacing:1.25px;letter-spacing:1.25px;background:none;padding:0px;color:#B3B3B3;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;}@media screen and (min-width:37.5rem){.chakra .wef-nr1rr4{font-size:0.875rem;}}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-nr1rr4{font-size:1rem;}} See all

This is what businesses need to be focusing on in 2024, according to top leaders

Victoria Masterson

April 16, 2024

3 ways leaders can activate responsible leadership in uncertain times

Ida Jeng Christensen

April 8, 2024

The catalysing collective: Announcing the Class of 2024

April 4, 2024

What we learned about effective decision making from Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman

Kate Whiting

March 28, 2024

Women founders and venture capital – some 2023 snapshots

Lessons in leadership and adventure from Kat Bruce

Modern-Day Heroes in Society Essay

Introduction, characteristics and journey of a hero, modern-day heroes, works cited.

Who is your hero? Most people when presented with a scenario to answer this question would think of a selfless character that braved the odds and rescued a situation that was getting out of hand. A hero is a person who is well-liked due to their successes and noble characteristics (The hero).

The likes of Martin Luther King Junior who advocated for equality among all races, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai who was buried in a papyrus casket for her love of nature, Clara Barton-an American activist; who risked her life on the battlefields of the Civil War to start the Red Cross and Oedipus of the Greek myths are all considered heroes by lots of people.

Although the heroes are understood differently among individuals, they are ordinary persons who posses more or less similar characteristics and could be anybody whose actions touch another person’s life.

Irrespective of gender, culture or traditions from which they are depicted, heroes possess some common characteristics. Although a hero could possibly possess all the five characteristics shared by heroism outlined by Miriam Polster (2-5), some could be more evident and overshadow others. Heroes and Heroines have respect for human life; they believe in the sanctity of life and often risk their lives for other’s sake. They have faith in the effectiveness of their choices and would pursue them in spite of opposition and criticism they may face.

They possess an original perspective and are not forced to accept and conform to agreements as they are but rather advocate for issues to be as they way should be. Heroism entails physical courage that makes one risk death and injury for other’s sake as well as mental courage that drives one not to be limited by the accepted “truths.” The acts of heroes usually may have public impacts or may impact profoundly to an individual and pass unnoticed.

The heroes usually go through a number of stages before they attain their desired destiny. Joseph Campbell (57) outlines the steps of the hero’s Journey. They reside in a normal world until they are “called to adventure” by the rise of a discovery or an event in need of help. They are faced with the task of refusing or accepting the call and enter a world of the unknown where they encounter a supernatural aid that helps them through their quest.

They require a talisman and a helper along the way for success. They go through a series of tests that strengthen and prepare them for the final hurdle. The heroes finally encounter the supreme ordeal, pass it successfully and are finally rewarded for the hard toil. Their success changes their lives and the lives of those around them and are stand qualified e.g. for marriage, Kingship or Queen ship.

Today the definition of the hero above as “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability” is long fading into history (Thomson 116-117). The meaning of a hero has changed and depends entirely on the time and reason for which one is considered a hero and parallel to the advancement of society, religion and politics to suit the wishes of those involved.

This is because the characters of people have changed; people no longer live in those old days where societal rules were rigid and leadership hereditary. People strive to do good and those who take the task to the extreme end are considered heroes or do-gooders (Moore 2). “Social entrepreneurs” as are commonly referred to are less interested in their success but rather on changing the system as a whole.

Today extreme do-gooders focus their attention to environmental protection, improving the education of a child and eradication of poverty and diseases from the face of the earth. They are pleased to do good even though their actions may negatively affect them. A good example is that of the late professor Wangari Maathai from Kenya who advocated for environmental protection through a worldwide program “the Green Belt Movement” for planting trees in deforested zones and lost her parliamentary seat in the process.

She however won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize becoming the first Woman in East and Central Africa to win the prestigious award. Another example is by Erick Brockovich, a legal secretary who dedicated her efforts in petitioning against a service company for polluting a source of water for a community.

Heroes have tales of adventure written against their names and an audience to listen to them; however they go past the usual fame and celebrity status (Tollefson 1). They are people who dedicate themselves to simplifying tasks for others and live lives that others strive to emulate by setting standards not achievable by the common man yet encourage him to pursue.

Heroes envision positive change and work towards it. Each person is faced with the same difficulties and the path they choose to follow in making their journey unrivaled is always different. People should be well aware of the mission of their journeys to successfully accomplish it and emerge as the ultimate hero.

Gone are the days when heroes were considered supernatural’s and enigmas, the future foresees a world where everyone strives to be their own hero.

Campbell, Joseph. The Hero With a Thousand Faces . Novato Calif: New World Library, 2008. Web.

Moore, Jina. “Extreme do-gooders – what makes them tick?” The Christian Science Monitor , 2009: pp. 1-2. Web.

Polster, Miriam. “Eve’s Daughters.” Gestalt Journal (2001). Web.

HelpMe: “The hero.” 2011. Web.

Thomson, Iain. “Sparks in the Darkness”: Deconstucting the Hero . Jackson: University Press of MIssissippi, 2005. pp. 116-117. Web.

Tollefson, Ted. “Is a Hero Really Nothing but a Sandwich?” Utne Reader. 1993. n. pag. Web.

Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, November 3). Modern-Day Heroes in Society. https://ivypanda.com/essays/heroes-2/

"Modern-Day Heroes in Society." IvyPanda , 3 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/heroes-2/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Modern-Day Heroes in Society'. 3 November.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Modern-Day Heroes in Society." November 3, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/heroes-2/.

1. IvyPanda . "Modern-Day Heroes in Society." November 3, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/heroes-2/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Modern-Day Heroes in Society." November 3, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/heroes-2/.

Professor Wangari Maathai: Life and Success
Wangari Maathai's First Person Experience in "Unbowed: A Memoir"
Entrepreneurship: Who Is Entrepreneur?
Impacts on Kenya Since Its Independence
The Role of Famous Figures in History
Humanity Development: Where Do We Go From Here?
Alfred Nobel as an Explosives Inventor
Mythological and Modern-Day Heroes
Alfred Nobel's Role in Developing and Improving Explosives
Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery
The Sociology of Religion Aspects
Introduction to Sociology of Religion: When Religion Defines the Moods in Community
The Sociological Study of Religion
About the Sociology of Religion
What is sociology of religion

Home / Essay Samples / Entertainment / TV / Heroes

Heroes Essay Examples

What makes a hero: beyond capes and costumes.

Heroes have been a part of human culture and mythology for centuries, embodying virtues, courage, and selflessness. In today's complex and interconnected world, the definition of a hero has evolved beyond the traditional image of a caped crusader or a legendary figure. Modern heroes come...

Defining Heroes: Ordinary Individuals with Extraordinary Impact

When we think of heroes, we often envision caped crusaders or larger-than-life figures performing daring feats. However, heroes come in many forms, and their actions can be both grand and subtle. In this essay, we will explore the definition of heroes and the remarkable qualities...

What is a Hero: Exploring the Depths of Heroism

The concept of heroism has captivated the human imagination for centuries. From ancient myths and legends to modern-day superheroes, heroes are central figures in our stories and culture. But what truly defines a hero? In this essay, we will embark on a journey to explore...

Modern Hero: Examples of the Heroic Archetype in the Media

Heroes have been a central archetype in storytelling throughout human history. In modern media, this archetype takes on new forms and dimensions, reflecting the values and challenges of our time. This essay explores the concept of the hero in contemporary media by examining three distinct...

Black Superheroes in Superhero Films

I’ve decided to do this essay on “Black Super Hero” both, to build an understanding, How “Superheroes” were made, Who they are, What super hero names are not recognized but also, What are the effects and How it affects me. My main focus is to...

The Connection Between Comic Book Superheroes and Americans

Super-History: Comic Book Superheroes and American Society, 1938 to the Present is a comic book in which the author Jeffrey K. Johnson, a World War II historian for the Joint POW/MIA Accounting, explores the “ways that comic book superheroes have influenced and have been influenced...

The Meaning of Hero and Superhero

The word “Hero” has had many misunderstandings in today’s world. When the word 'hero' is spoken, everyone has different thoughts. To many a “hero” is a superhero or whatnot. Yet again, Heroes are role models and they’re people that we look up too. Common connotations...

What It Means to Be a Hero

What is a Hero? Debi Mazar once said “A hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people. A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really...

Superhero Concept and Stereotypes in Watchmen by Alan Moore

Watchmen is a graphic novel series written by Alan Moore that features original superheroes and historical fiction created by the author himself. The storytelling of the superhero ‘species’ is well-known for dealing with issues of social injustice and role-model characters, but Alan Moore’s Watchmen challenges...

The Concept of Heroism in 'Beowulf' and 'Interstellar'

The concept of heroism has changed, from being able to slay dragons bare handed to saving humanity by solving maths equations, the concept of the word has changed. Heroism although it has changed it still presents the same qualities, for example the epic poem “Beowulf”...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!