What defines a hero? What separates the real heroes from those who just title themselves as one? If you were to ask me those questions three months, I would struggle to give definitive answers. However, after taking my Critical Thinking and Writing class, I have learned how to differentiate between what it truly means to be a hero and the casual, informal use of the word. In our classes, we looked at heroes from all types of literature and media from novels to movies to even a sitcom. We noticed that even though we looked at a wide variety of hero portrayals, they all followed two key concepts: the hero’s quest cycle and the hero ‘s journey. Either of those can show who the hero or heroes of the story are. This will help differentiate the true heroes from someone who has done a good deed. This could also unveil another, more subtle hero present in the story; there could always be more than one hero. However, anyone who follows the quest cycle or journey may not be a hero; all heroes follow the cycle and journey but not vice-versa necessarily. Someone could easily help another person unintentionally, such as Pierce from the sitcom Community. Pierce did successfully align with the quest cycle but due to his intention of hurting Neil, it disqualified him from the title of a hero. The connection we made for the things we read or watched as a child (Hunger Games and superheroes) was the most interesting; to see that we can apply it to those things amazes me and makes me wonder how people do not notice. This class changed my perspective about writing as a whole, that writing can be a formula.
Hero’s Quest Cycle
- Zone of comfort
- Wants something
- Unfamiliar situation
- Adapt to it
- Set what they wanted
- Pay a heavy price
- Return to familiar
- Having changed
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Unfortunately, we could not do Yards for Yeardley, The Scarlet Bookmark, and Stick It To Love events due to the allotted time of the project as well as due to how bus we were. However, we did make some Because I Love You flyers as well as added songs to the #ThatsNotLovePlaylist, which I thought was fun. However, our efforts to stop unhealthy relationships and introducing the One Love Foundation does not have to end with this project. When we get more time, events like Yards for Yeardley seem more reasonable to do. I am also open to discussing anything about relationships to other people, whether it is something major like abuse or even something small like “Will she like it if I do this?” or something along those lines. Although I have never been in an abusive relationship, I empathize with those who have and want to stop just as much as they do. This has honestly been a very enjoyable experience, and I like seeing other people smile knowing that there are people that are willing to help, so I do not want to stop where I am now.
When put in the situation where he and Katniss are the final two contestants, Peeta said he was willing to die to let her win. This was very selfless and considerate of Peeta, sacrificing his own life to save the one he loves, the leader of the rebellion. However, was this really as selfless and considerate as it might appear? Peeta had a rough childhood, with a family that doesn’t support him and he can’t look forward to after he wins. The only person he does love and can look forward to is Katniss. She, on the other hand, is a very loving person, who does have a family to look forward to after she wins, and Peeta used it to his advantage. He put himself in a situation where either she lives a life full of guilt or finds a way where both of them can live. We quickly find out that she has a caring soul and that the latter occurs. However, even if she was an inconsiderate person who has no feelings towards Peeta, he would probably rather die anyway; with no family to congratulate or love him after the long, hard-fought battle and no one else to love, he would only experience negligible happiness compared to Katniss. However, regardless of his true intent, Peeta was able to convince Katniss to do an all-or-nothing situation, where either both of them dies or someone intervenes allowing them both to live, which will be what happens. Peeta may continue to live, knowing that there is someone he loves that is too alive and may look forward to seeing and bonding.
