Epic Vs. Modern Heroes Essay - 1008 Words

While â€Å"Have at thee!† the Arthurian battle cry from Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail, is a far a-hem cry from the modern day hero’s, the essence remains the same. Many aspects of culture have been wholly altered, but society’s quest for a hero has remained. Each people of the ancient times had a matchless idol that was unto his self the embodiment of cultural perfection. In more recent eras, where societies vary exceedingly, people have relied on scores of heroes. The United States is deemed the â€Å"melting pot† of the world due to the vast number of cultures she houses. Should she not, then, have a vast number of heroes, each one serving an essential role in society? Though modern culture does not choose one hero to exemplify†¦show more content†¦White stands up for the bleeding, dying cop, saying â€Å"You’re making a terrible mistake I’m not going to let you make. Joe, if you kill that man you die next.† Mr. White takes a bullet for the man who sold him out. In this case, the heroic character was not the upstanding citizen. Mr. White was, however, someone anyone would feel safe calling his or her hero. Anti-heroes do not solely exist in the fictional world. There are people in the real world, everyday who fit the anti-hero description. They are†¦ the Mob. In ancient times loyalty was purest form of respect. It was a way of life. One was loyal to his or her family, govern, king, and God. Hand in hand with loyalty, comes the right to revenge. The Mob is one of the few â€Å"societies† that has reserved that tradition. For example: when a family member is assassinated, it is not only the right, but also the duty of the surviving family to avenge that death. This loyalty to one’s own, coupled with the fierce determination to protect them, are incredibly heroic qualities. Organized crime families are oohed and ahhed by the press and pop culture, and have their own fans. While these people are not ideal role models, they possess heroic qualities worthy of aspiration. Modern culture does not love only the anti-hero; modern culture loves nearly anything it finds praiseworthy. This encompasses aShow MoreRelatedEssay about John Miltons Paradise Lost as Christian Epic1147 Words   |  5 PagesParadise Lost as Christian Epic John Miltons great epic poem, Paradise Lost, was written between the 1640s and 1665 in England, at a time of rapid change in the western world. Milton, a Puritan, clung to traditional Christian beliefs throughout his epic, but he also combined signs of the changing modern era with ancient epic style to craft a masterpiece. He chose as the subject of his great work the fall of man, from Genesis, which was a very popular story to discuss and retell at the timeRead MoreTheme Of Good And Evil In Beowulf1190 Words   |  5 PagesEarth. The birthing of such catastrophe--evil--has affected even the modern millennial generation. 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