Introduction
Heroism can be termed as an act of courage and fearlessness where someone prioritizes others before their own lives, no matter how risky the situation could be. Institutions and societies need social heroes who are willing and able to remind people of their principles and values and challenge them if any authority violates these principles. According to their ideals and beliefs, these individuals act to defend society and the powerless by upholding the set values and aspirations. These acts of heroism are often brought about when heroes interact in environments, which force them to take action and save others. Based on the film “Hotel Rwanda” and the story “Home Soil,” this essay aims to highlight traits and beliefs, which heroes possess. They are important as they motivate them to act even in immediate danger to save those powerless in society. The characters in the highlighted pieces are perfect examples of heroes who demonstrate their heroism through bravery and integrity, pursuit for value, controlling conflicts, and always striving to meet set obligations and goals.
Strong Values
Most heroes are value-oriented; they criticize different deeds in accordance with their values and moral standards and fight for what they believe is right. They act even if it means challenging those in authority and their decisions, which do not favor those powerless in society. For example, in the film “Hotel Rwanda,” Paul Rusesabagina is seen to act independently in saving every member of the community who comes to his hotel for shelter (George, 2004). He believes that his immediate family is the only family to care for and protected at all costs. Paul does not care about the consequences his actions could bring but tries to save everyone from being killed by collaborating with his high-value friends. In turn, Bohdan from “Home Soil” is also guided by his perceptions of right and wrong. In the story, he confronts his father’s ideas of appropriateness and the need for power (Zabytko, 2007). Being a soldier participating in the Vietnam war, he saw injustices, which he was not prepared for, and they resulted in his desire to help rather than destroy others as opposed to his father’s stance (Zabytko, 2007). Thus, the background in which most heroes were raised determines their morality.
Bravery and Integrity
Heroism depends on how an individual handles fear when circumstances are tragic. This notion and taking risks go hand in hand whenever threats, such as natural disasters, violent attacks, and climate disasters, among others, take place within an environment. An individual is often required to show courage and fearlessness when handling such irritating circumstances. In the film “Hotel Rwanda,” Paul shows bravery when he risks his life and that of his family to shelter more community members. He is even threatened that he will be killed together with the group he is determined to protect. Instead, he does not relent and goes ahead to bargain with the senior member of the Hutu militia who allows him to keep the people in his hotel (George, 2004). In addition, the courage of Bohdan from “Home Soil” is of a similar nature as he goes to war even though this act does not correlate with considerations of personal safety (Zabytko, 2007). He also demonstrates it by isolating himself from his father with improper views (Zabytko, 2007). Hence, heroes are often brave, and they continue to stand their ground to save the underprivileged in society.
Controlling Internal and External Conflicts
Internal conflicts tend to arise between the hero’s heart and mind. It is a dilemma between choosing by one’s instincts and determining whether it is true or false or following what the mind says no matter what relation an individual holds with the person in question. For example, in the book “Home Soil,” Bohdan’s conflict is the need to communicate with his father and sister while he does not logically support their views (Zabytko, 2007). For Paul from “Hotel Rwanda,” the internal conflict is less severe since he chooses to protect people and does not have any conflicting perceptions with them (George, 2004). However, heroes also face external conflicts with different people deriving from how they handle difficult situations. They arise because of varying interaction patterns and, consequently, the degree of appropriateness expressed by individuals. In “Hotel Rwanda,” Paul’s external conflict is the need to balance between the authorities’ regulations and his personal decisions (George, 2004). In turn, Bohdan’s problems are related to this family’s actions towards other people, which are aggressive and cruel (Zabytko, 2007). These two types of issues are typical for all heroes regardless of their situations.
Expectations and Obligations
Heroes are usually expected to express fearlessness and selflessness, thereby confirming their concerns about others. This circumstance defines the necessity to meet their duties or obligations under extreme pressure or unexpected risks. For example, in “Hotel Rwanda,” Paul Rusesabagina is the manager of his hotel, and, therefore, he must ensure that everyone staying in their rooms (George, 2004). Even under intense pressure, he puts on a brave face and wears his formal clothes daily to help those seeking shelter in his hotel due to moral responsibility. In the same way, Bohdan disregards the terror of war and keeps performing his duties (Zabytko, 2007). Thus, both characters feel that they should maintain moral standards in society instead of seeking personal benefits, and this fact defines their successes in meeting others’ expectations.
Modern-Day Heroes
In the present-day world, there are also heroes like the ones portrayed in books or movies. Even though it is more difficult to distinguish them from others as they do not present themselves as such. The reason is in the fact that this term is too often used when describing a typical superhero or another figure with unique abilities, and it leads to misinterpretation of this notion. As a result, people tend to neglect individuals who strive to achieve everyone’s happiness and well-being through less significant deeds, such as care for community members.
Conclusion
Rules and duties set by authorities, which do not meet the moral standards of society, could make certain individuals in the community come out and fight for the underprivileged members. These people can be termed as heroes who are willing to take responsibility and promote their proper views on justice. As follows from the considered examples, Paul from “Hotel Rwanda” and Bohdan from “Home Soil,” they share common traits and beliefs. First, heroes possess strong values guiding their decisions. Second, they demonstrate bravery and integrity regardless of circumstances. Third, these individuals tend to face internal and external conflicts stemming from their differences and have to solve them to meet expectations. Such people can also be seen in the present-day world; however, it is hard to notice them as they are humble in contrast to the typical portrayal of heroes.
References
George, T. (2004). Hotel Rwanda [Film]. Lions Gate Films.
Zabytko, I. (2007). Home soil. In Edgar V. Roberts & Henry E. Jacobs (Eds.), Literature – An introduction to reading and writing (8th ed., pp. 489-493). Pearson Prentice Hall.