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  • Essay / A study of what constitutes a hero as described in the story of Perseus

    What makes a hero?To be known as a hero is a great honor. You are held in high esteem by people around the world. You enjoy great fame and sometimes even great fortune. But becoming a hero is a difficult path. This requires that you have great strength of character, that you are honorable and trustworthy. Sometimes the path can be physically difficult and sometimes courage and willpower are tested. You must be willing to sacrifice whatever is required of you to help others; to go beyond your individual self. You must be willing to die to save someone else's life while losing your own. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay Now we travel to a time centuries past, between 550 and 220 BC, in a modest cottage on a Greek island isolated island named Seriphos where a little boy and his mother were found in a locked trunk floating on the ocean. Now, fast forward about 16 years. This young boy grew into a courageous and adventurous man, tenacious and determined to seek glory while protecting and showing devotion to his mother. His name is Perseus, the son of Zeus. Perseus is technically considered a hero according to the ways of the gods; he was born of a god and son of the god of all gods. But will he become a true hero? I say that's a no. The dictionary defines a hero as someone of distinguished courage or ability, admired for courageous deeds and noble qualities. Greece is known as the land of gods and heroes and Greek mythology is full of amazing stories. Those concerning heroes are particularly powerful. Ancient Greek heroes were physically strong, wanted to be remembered, and fought to protect those close to them. Some of them even managed to defeat the gods. Perseus does not fit this definition or description. It is true that he is admired for the tasks and situations he had to overcome, even if it can be argued that he only walked alone. He received a lot of help and support throughout his many adventures. Throughout Perseus' heroic quest, gods hold each of his hands, protecting him and aiding him on his journeys. In fact, when Perseus began his escapade, he did not even bring a sword or shield, knowing that he would eventually have to fight and kill Medusa, the evil Gorgon with snake hair and very hard scales who, along with a look that could turn men to stone. Medusa also had her two sisters who are immortal and would eat any man they caught in their claws. All three lived on a desolate island that was very difficult to find. Knowing that his quest was to find Medusa and kill her, he wandered across Greece looking for someone who had information about the Gorgon sisters. His travels were in vain and his inquisitions fruitless. Perseus was so desperate after his search that he considered abandoning his pursuit. Unexpectedly, the god Hermes, who was the god of travelers, and the goddess Athena, who is the goddess of wisdom and strategy, stood before Perseus and offered their help. They were sent there by Zeus to help him in his quest to eradicate Medusa. They gave her two gifts, Athena's breastplate which served as a reflective surface for viewing Medusa and an unbreakable sword. Hermes transported Perseus to the island where three witches lived. Witches had one eye that they shared with each other. While the witches were.