Comparing Heroism in Red Badge of Courage, Journeys End, and Regeneration :: comparison compare contrast essays

Heroism in Red Badge of Courage, Journeys discontinue, and variation The idea of fortitude is constantly evolving with time. The traditional idea of heroism, is derived from ancient Grecian influences such as the two major epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The mythological get in of heroism is endowed with great strength and ability, and of divine descent. He brings pureness and acclaim, and is admired for his courage. This is the Homeric pattern that The Red Badge of Courage and Journeys End approaches. There is the predominant emphasis on the physical, courage and masculinity, in the ideal of a heroic person in these two texts. However heroism redefined in the modern context has extended its definition beyond the understandably physical terms with the obvious absence of the intellect and morals, and is exemplified by Sassoon in Regeneration. According to the Britannica-Webster dictionary, heroism refers to great self-sacrificing courage, that is, greatne ss of heart in facing danger or difficulties. The modern definition of heroism, though it stiff to be purely subjective, has evolved to mean (as I would define it) an unyielding and inflexible commitment to ones purpose and morality even in the face of antagonism, qualities of which ordain command admiration. It is this very idea of heroism that is the motivational force layabout many young ambitious men to join the war. This desire to active up to the Homeric ideal feeds on pride and vanity of youths and is intelligibly demonstrated by Henry Fleming in The Red Badge of Courage. His overdraw and romantic notions of honour - tales of great movements shook the land...there seemed to be much ring in them - drives him to the decision to join the war. However, his misguided fantasies of which in visions he had seen himself in many struggles...imagined people secure in the shadow of his eagle-eyed valor, proves to be terribly wrong in a matter of altogether a few days. In no time, he found himself to be part of a vast blue demonstration. Crane tries to sprinkle the link between heroism and actual real-life warfare by speech Henry, an ignorant youth immersed in idealized notions of glory fame and honour, to a clearer and much sombre view of the world and himself.