Romantic Collecting: Collecting the Hero

Within many of the poems and tales that we have come across within the semester, there is a theme of heroism touching upon each. Though, perhaps, not the most obvious of topics as an author’s self or a internal transformation, the idea of the heroic theme is incredibly important when concerning the characters, plot, author, and some sort of political moral standing. The hero can become the symbol of something more than an atypical man with incredible power. He or she could stand for a society’s lack of passion or bravery for each other or against enemies. The heroic status could represent an author’s own personal desire for more in their life than what they originally stand for. Or the hero within the different stories could be another process in the heroic evolution. Thalaba the Destroyer, The Giour, The Thorn, and the Journals of the voyages express these different sides of heroism and appeared to be another, hidden, collection of items within the Romantic period.

A Hero

What is a hero? The evolution of the hero has changed throughout the centuries of literature and myth. Through oral and written telling and generations of modernizing the idea of what a hero is has molded and changed. The idea has gone from epic men within wars to one man on a quest to moral knights in armor to conflicted men and women with dark tendencies. There is no longer a simple idea or concept of what is and who can be a hero.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary; “Hero, n: A name given (As in Homer) to men of super human strength, courage, or ability, favored by the gods; at a later time regarded as intermediate between gods and men, and immortal.” The original idea of a hero concentrated on the physical strength and luck of the gods. The hero could be a flawed individual (such as Hercules who was not the brightest or Achilles who had a deadly temper) and could suffer a tragic fate rather than a happy ending.

Over time, the hero started to transform into a man who embodied the moral and the good of the world and of the Christian God. This was the stereotypical gentle white knight who would fight dragons for the fair damsels. And finally, the more modernized hero with dark flaws and deep emotional damage. They have become someone who is not just out to do the good for the world, but has their own personal agenda, a corrupt desire, or many fatal flaws.

A hero steps out of the ordinary idea of what is a human and becomes something different, special, and perhaps tragic. Amazing and terrible things work around the hero and prompt them on tragic or epic quests. But this is within the idea of a literature hero. A hero is not trapped within the world of pages or storytellers as the idea of heroism is shown through the physical ways of battle and war.

Heroism has been commonly treated as a background assumption in examining the nature and association of war. When ordinary men were willing to confront attackers at the risk of death. It is facing the prospect of harm or death for the good of life for many or for a belief. (Smirnov 1) The evolution of the hero had been concerning the idea of war, but does the idea of war always fit within every story or poem? No, it is through many different the following different poems and stories that different ideas and evolutions of the hero and how it is no longer a war-like warrior.

The following stories/poems show how the hero has become something more and can be used as a literary device rather than just a simple character.

The Thorn: The Needed Hero

Wordsworth/Coleridge

One of the best examples of a hero being used as a literary device is within the Thorn. Within the class discussion, the primary focus was on the haunting woman and how the male figure seemed to fail within an opportunity of heroism. There was a chance for this unknown male figure to solve the miserable mystery of this woman and come to her aid during a time of need, however that never happened. The man did not approach the woman out of fear and the legend of her supposed witchcraft and crimes continued on in fearful obscurity. Within this story, there was a need for a heroic position, but it failed to be met. The lack of a hero was a political cry for lack of compassion and ignorance that is curable but is never resolved. The needed hero was used as a literary device to call for action and express a lack within the culture or within an individual. Who was there for the damsel?

Or, perhaps, the unsung hero in the case of what the thorn is doing. Within Desdemona Cranshaw’s post, there is the idea that the Thorn is the “protector of the secret the weeping woman is keeping.” And Calliope brings up that there is a lot of speculation of the thorn being a bigger symbol than how it could be read. This opens up the option for something even more than an empty story without meaning. If the thorn itself is the hero, this opens up another evolving opportunity for what a hero is. Is it simply a man who is blessed? Or could it be something more?

There is something more to a hero than just simply a human figure who saves the day. When the lack of that figure is used, it can be a perfect tool for a political outcry. Or, the idea of a hero could be used as an unexpected character and call into question what defines a hero.

The Journals: The Hero Syndrome
Banks

Within the literary work, the idea of a hero could easily evolve. But the heroic idea does not only make an impact within the literary world alone. The heroic figure has become something revered and enjoyed in the human world. The hero became the symbolism of fame and wealth. There is a reward system for the hero who braves an adventure; fame, glory, wealth, and finance. An adventurer who touches dangerous land most feared can obtain heroic statues and the benefit of that.

The desire for this status and fame can be read within many of the works read during this semester, but it shines the most within the Journals of Joseph Banks. As seen in his image to the right, the desire to become something more is visible. A sweeping golden cloak, knowledge and the world at his fingertips, Banks is creating a powerful image of himself to match the words within his journals. It shows in his journal entries and portraits that becoming a hero is something that would be an equivalent to the modern day Hollywood-star.

This is an example on how the hero has evolved. It is no longer trapped within a fantasy realm of literature but has become an inspiration in how people should aim to live. It has become an inspiration and a commodity. The hero sales books and the hero earns fame. Men could become the hero of epic tales and have their names known throughout their society. The hero escapes from the bounds of paper and touched in reality.

Thalaba the Destroyer: The Epic Hero

Southey

The idea of the classic hero has not been taken out of the literary field. There are still touches of the hero with a purpose within the stories that have been read, including Thalaba the Destroyer by Southey. This is the hero with a purpose and a blessing, who is setting out to accomplish something more than the typical man. It is through the epic quests and the prime concentration on the heroic character that makes it such an important aspect within the story. Thalaba fits the scheme of the “paradigmatic heroic tale that includes a sort of negative post-script to the achievement of the heroic goal” (Hogan 121). Thalaba is a standout figure and is used in the most basic style of heroism.

But Thalaba is also used as a similar fashion how Banks used his journals. It shows a desire of the author to reach out and become something more than a simple writer. Within the work of Thalaba, Southey’s presence was felt and it was not just through the many footnotes. As part of the class discussion, we covered the idea of Southey showing who he was more than, perhaps, needed for the type of tale he was writing. Why make such a personal presences within such a tale of the epic hero? Because, as previously mentioned, there is something to gain for.

The Giour: The Anti-Hero

Byron

One of the best examples of the evolution of heroes is the Byronic hero. The change from the hero who embodied purity from a more conflicted individual came from Byron and his heroic literary figures. He brought in figures that could very well be considered something opposite of heroic. It is through Byron that the anti-hero figure sees light.

Within the Giour, this image is felt with the main figure that is confessing his sins to a monk. His heroic deed was an act of revenge and yet he feels he would’ve done the same thing had he been in his nemesis’ place. Typical heroes before this time did not do that. They did not think such corrupted thoughts or desired such selfish acts. This is where the hero became more human. Where the reader starts to think and question on the motives and the personality of the figure who would be the hero.

The hero is a powerful literary tool that creates something new for the story and a new way of perceiving different issues. What was once something so simple to understand and so straightforward has evolved into something new and modern. As shown in the stories and within the class discussion the hero theme is incredibly important for the literary world.

Citation

Blogs

Desdemona Cranshaw: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-baby-and-thorn.html

Calliope: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/10/significance-of-thorn.html

Dlacey1127: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/11/better-understanding-of-giaour.html

Dlacey1127: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/11/thalaba-destroyer-religious.html

Jon: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/11/southey.html

Enargeia: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/11/byron-giaour.html

Lalababaganoosh: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/11/byron-giaour.html

Brightstar: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/11/unbelievable.html

Pagie Lollie: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/11/paige-lollie-what-make-hero.html

Paige Lollie: http://romanticcollecting.blogspot.com/2012/11/paige-lollie-gilgamesh-and-thalaba.html