Modern Day Hero's Journey Analysis

A hero is a person that displays incredible virtues during times of strife. This can be observed in all classical works of literature, wherein the hero’s opposition is usually a monster or enemy that he must either overpower or outsmart by using his courage, strength and wit. Additionally, classical heroes are often fated/chosen by the gods, showing a clear divide between a hero and a normal person. While the definition of hero has not changed, the virtues required to be a hero have. Modern day heroes are individuals capable of fighting to help others no matter the circumstances, some even forgo their own safety in order to aid those in need. A shining example of a modern day hero is Malala Yousafzai. She is Pakistani woman that fights for equal rights in education for women, eventually becoming one of the biggest symbols of human rights activism. According to the French author Charles Nodier, “Literature is an expression of society”. In other words, heroes from classical myths were simply idealistic expressions of the Greek people, and thus, not compatible with modern society. Homer’s Odysseus can be used to compare Greek society ideals to their heroes. To illustrate, his bravery when confronting Polyphemus shows how strong willed he is as an individual. This is a common trait among classical heroes because the fear of the unknown was prevalent in ancient times. Another example is his cleverness. Throughout the epic he is shown overcoming struggles with his wit and quick thinking abilities. This can be linked to how much the Greeks valued intelligence, seeing philosophers and intellectuals were respected high ranking members of society. Finally, Odysseus prodigious strength can be observed when he deals with Penelope’s suitors after returning to Ithaca. Much like Philosophers, soldiers were vital members of society, thus making strength a desirable trait. Ultimately, all of these qualities play an essential role in Odysseus characterization as a classical hero. When analysing heroes, the single most important aspect one should investigate is his journey. …show more content…
A hero’s journey can be divided in three stages; departure, crisis and return. As an example of a modern day hero’s journey, Malala Yousafzai’s fight for the right to education was able to inspire millions of people. Her battle began when she was 12, despite Pakistan’s tumultuous landscape, she stood firm and opposed fundamentalists by exposing her opinions in an online blog. With regards to the hero’s journey, this would be equal to her departure into the yhg“special world”. As Malala rose in prominence, she started receiving death threats from the Taliban. This led to her crisis in 2012, when a gunman shot Yousafzai in the head which brought her to critical condition. Much like Odysseus after Poseidon’s shipwrecking storm, she was one step away from her demise and yet she was able to recover. After waking up from her coma, Yousafzai will did not falter, choosing to keep giving a voice to those who are oppressed . While her journey has not ended, it is clear she will not return to the “normal world” until she is victorious. Over the years paradigm of heroism has has changed drastically. As was previously stated, heroes used to be talented individuals who could overcome challenges for their own sake. Whereas, Malala Yousafzai’s selfless struggle shows her charitability and drive to help humankind. In other words, those who are able to give back to society, with good intent,