Why Do People Need Heroes.

             The hero is the man - rarely the woman - who inspires children and adults, and reflects the finest qualities of man even if the stories are fantasy. He is recognized as an inspiration, seen as someone engendering man's best qualities. It is not that the hero represents most if not all men; it is that most, if not all men are happy to have him as their representative (Britannica). Heroes are very important and necessary symbols of the hopes and dreams of man. Heroes are not gods. They are flesh and blood. But when the test comes, heroes react in extraordinary ways, often rising above the ordinary and surpassing the expected. Heroes inspire, because they dream bigger, they reach higher, and they are able to endure longer.

             Heroes should be watched and seen in order to be understood. Real heroes are not always super human. They are sometimes the guy sitting on the bus or living next door. Heroes are not born. Circumstances often make heroes out of ordinary men found performing heroic acts. Police officers and fire fighters, federal agents and everyday people are regularly commended for committing acts above and beyond the call of duty. Heroes are necessary because they set standards and reinforce societal values.

             Some heroes become legends, such as Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett. Time has made their exploits bigger than life. Davy Crockett did not kill a bear when he was only three as the song says, but the embellishment gives the story color and makes people feel good about their hero (Shenkman and Kurt, pg.62). People are willing to accept this imformation that is so obviously not true because they need to believe that there are real heroes. If another man has done heroic acts, then it is not so far fetched to believe thathe would also act accordingly. No one wants to believe that he would be a coward in the face of danger. The ability to face their fears and do the brave thing is a quality that everyone admires in another human being.