'One is not born a hero, one becomes a hero'
Publié le 11/12/2012
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Comparative Literature Essay 'One is not born a hero, one becomes a hero'. The concept of hero is present throughout literature and it had existed since the very beginning of storytelling. It is a recurrent figure in ancient texts such as myths and legends. The hero is still present in today's literature and has sometimes evolved as superhero. The antihero has become more and more popular in contemporary literature, bringing a new kind of heroes with much . Such variations in the concept of hero show a concern about its definition and questions the nature of the hero. Myths and legends present the hero as an exceptional person, usually a demigod, in the same way that superheroes show peculiar characteristics that made them superhuman by their nature. The greek hero Heracles is the son of the god Zeus and he was born with a supernatural force. In The Tain, Cú Chulainn is a heroic figure which seems determined by birth and destiny. He is the son of the god Lug Mac Ethlenn, hence a demigod. He rises above common people without being a god. For instance he is the only man who is not affected by The Curse which prevents the Ulstermen from fighting. His great strength is given to him by birth and he will also benefit from the help of gods thanks to this position. Once Cú Chulainn gets seriously wounded from a combat and his father Lug comes to heal him. Cú Chulainn does not only have exceptional attributes from his birth, he is also determined by destiny. 'Cathbad said that if a warrior took up arms that day, his name would endure in Ireland as a byword for heroic deeds, and that stories about him would be told forever.' (Carson (trans.), The Ta?in, p. 43) When the hero hears the druid Cathbad's prophetic words, he takes arms to accomplish this destiny. Once again, Cú Chulainn wi...
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