The concept of a hero and the characteristics that one person feels are embodied by a hero are explored in the short story "Ride, Fly, Penetrate, Loiter" by Barry Hannah. Everyone wants to be a hero, but in reality few are. There are many people who consciously and unconsciously undermine their attempts to become a hero. Ned Maximus, the protagonist in Hannah's story is just such a person. Ned states that he "wants some hero for a buddy" (page 36). Hannah has definite ideas of the way a hero should act and communicates these through Ned. Ned, on the other hand, seems to act in a manner contrary to these ideas.

Ned believes that a hero should never lie, but should always be truthful. In being an honest person a true hero should be appalled by fakes and frauds. Ned, a drunk would like to believe that he is truthful but reveals himself as a liar when he states "I have been sober ever since. I have just told a lie" (page 42). He is indeed a liar; therefore, according to his own definition he is not a hero.

According to Hannah, a hero possesses the qualities of honesty, sobriety, ability to love, virtuousness, and is possibly being a writer. Ned Maximus fails to incorporate these qualities into his own character, even though he wishes that he could have these qualities and be a true hero. Ned would have to make major changes in his attitudes towards people and his treatment of them. Since this is unlikely to happen, Ned Maximus will never be a shining example of a hero as described by Barry Hannah.

ssertation on the qualities of a hero, Ned mentions that a true hero could possibly be a writer and he, Ned is a writer. In "Ride, Fly, Penetrate, Loiter" Ned is stabbed in the eye by an acquaintance, Billy Six Fingers. Since this incident Ned insists that he can "see things more clearly through his one good eye" (page 37). From this clarity Ned states that "I will write some times and my bones will hurt" (Page 38). Ned insists that he now writes with a passion that he never had before he was able to see things more clearly. He asserts that he writes from inspiration, from what h

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Approximate Word count = 733
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)