Unfortunately, or fortunately, the arsenal of the modern film industry contains just a staggering number of the most diverse examples of true heroism, which the younger generation is equal to and admired by more or less impressionable representatives of the human race. The unsurpassed Sandra Bullock, for example, survives alone in outer space, Hugh Laurie in the form of Dr. House saves an infinite number of lives from lupus, and the omnipotent Terminator once again returns to Earth in order to solve all its pressing problems.
Roughly the same thing is happening with modern literature. Take, for example, one of the latest bestsellers - Andy Weyer’s book “The Martian,” which is an adaptation of the robinsonade that has long been familiar to the world's reading population. Or the famous “Song of Ice and Fire” by the brutal and merciless to his heroes George Martin - all this is written about the heroes.
World salvation
The question "what is heroism?" at first glance it seems rather stupid and useless. Most people will be able to answer it without a single second allotted for reflection and reasoning. In fact, what is the use of excessive philosophizing if the idea of heroes is, firstly, for each his own, and secondly, for everyone from the earliest years, fairy tales, songs, cartoons and masterpieces of cinema are put into each?
So what is heroism for modern man? By and large, this is a set of qualities necessary for doing a good deed like saving the world, curing a terrible virus that turns everyone into zombies or solving the problem of racial inequality. In short, for most people, examples of heroism are inextricably linked with a kind of global mission.
Spiritual session for communication with the ancient Greeks
As you know, it is in Hellas that the cradle of modern world culture is located, and therefore who else knows exactly what heroism is, if not the ancient Greeks? The fact is that if you familiarize yourself with ancient mythology in detail, you can notice the fact that all of it is about gods, people, and, as you can already guess, heroes. Who were they for the legislators of philosophy and trends in the field of art and architecture?
The answer is very simple: in the minds of the ancient Greek, a hero is a creature born of God and man. According to the myth known to all, this was exactly what Hercules was, or Hercules, as he was later called by the ancient Romans. He was born an earthly woman named Alkmena from the supreme god Olympus named Zeus, also known as the Thunderer.
Another embodiment of heroism for the ancient Hellenes was the famous Achilles, born of the sea goddess Thetis from King Peleus. Odysseus, although he was not born of God, was still his descendant - the genealogical tree of this mythological character dates back to Hermes - the guide of souls through the underworld and the patron saint of travelers.
What is heroism for the ancient Greeks? In addition to unconditional participation in the exploits, this is also a special origin, some proximity to the divine principle, with the exception of immortality, which neither Hercules, nor Odysseus, nor, as you know, Achilles possessed.
Comics culture
For any self-respecting American, there is a slightly different idea of heroes and heroism. In this case, we are talking about representatives of the human race, endowed for one reason or another with superpowers. Numerous brainchildren of the studios MARVEL and DC comics today literally do not leave the screens around the world.
For most modern children, real examples of heroism are the accomplishments of Iron Man, Batman, Captain America, Wolverine, and a whole legion of other owners of supernatural qualities.
Heroes of the Slavs
However, the assumption that outstanding actions are characteristic only of representatives of Western culture will be incorrect. Despite the fact that it was the foreign Avengers, Gladiators and Terminators that flooded the consciousness of the whole world, in Slavic culture there are also many examples of such removed guys.
In this case, we are talking about glorious heroes like Dobrynia Nikitich, Alyosha Popovich and Svyatogor, whom for some reason everyone began to forget safely. However, even if we omit the traditional Slavic folklore, the famous dog Mukhtar and Uncle Stepa always remain.
Seriously
True and false heroism is found in the modern world at almost every step. Great accomplishments sometimes occur around the corner, and an insignificant trifle swells up to a global scale.
What is the difference between true and false heroism among themselves, the question is quite philosophical, since everyone has their own idea on this subject. For some, the truth lies in the disinterestedness of a particular act, while others delimit themselves for these concepts by measuring the scale.
In any case, contrary to popular belief, heroism nowadays exists, and by no means due to supernatural abilities or special origin.
To live and die in the name of children
You could start a gallery of outstanding deeds with anyone, but some actions are especially worthy of not being forgotten. An outstanding teacher and a man with a capital Yanush Korczak literally gave his life to his students. Once in the Warsaw ghetto, he organized an orphanage, in which 192 children of different ages found refuge.
In inhuman conditions, Korczak continued to heal, educate and teach children, no matter what, trying to find any opportunity to save his wards. Since at that time all the "unproductive elements" were eliminated by the Nazis, the full orphanage was sent to Treblin's "death camp." Korczak's pedagogical skill was so huge that it brought him a pardon, but the teacher refused a ticket to freedom and spent with their children their most terrible last hours. Together with his assistant Stefaniya Vilchinskaya and his pupils, Janusz Korczak was martyred in a gas chamber.
Horn for a thousand voices
What would American democracy be like if the great Martin Luther King had not made the famous speech “I have a dream”?
Thousands of people went after their leader to defend their civil rights and dignity.
Among the battle and blood
Heroism in war is a seemingly ordinary thing, but not when you are six. It was at this age that Sergei Aleshkov, who participated in the defense of Stalingrad, reached Poland, saved his commander, fell into the ranks of Soviet fighters during the Great Patriotic War. A boy who became an adult ahead of time, who survived one of the worst times in the history of mankind.
Nevertheless, the heroism in the war is far from always the willingness to shoot at the enemy to defeat or throw himself under tanks to save a partner. Sometimes it’s just the ability to remain human in the most inhuman conditions, when the edges of good and evil become especially thin.
Depth of value
What is heroism? The definition of this term, although it seems simple, allows a huge number of interpretations. This is Yuri Gagarin’s first flight into space and raising his own child during the war, this is a donation of all capital to improve the quality of life in third world countries and a willingness to help a friend in an emergency.
For someone, a real example of heroism is the feat of Ramazi Datiashvili, a young microsurgeon who returned the legs cut off by a combine harvester to a three-year-old Race.
Immortalized in books
Heroism in literature found just a huge number of reflections, starting with the classics and ending with modern prose. For example, Marcus Zuzak in his best-selling book The Book Thief described the real feat of a German family that sheltered a Jew in his basement in the midst of fascist Germany.
The heroism in literature was also perpetuated by Boris Pasternak, who wrote an immortal work, a true masterpiece of world classics, and the novel Doctor Zhivago. In order to do good deeds, one does not need to possess superpowers - it is enough just to be a person who believes in the best and is ready for any everyday hardships and troubles.