In today’s modern times we hear the word “hero” all of the time. The news media throws the term around as if it is an everyday word. What exactly is a hero? Who, or what, can be classified as heroic? There is no set definition and everyone has their own perception of what a hero really is. Conversely, according to Webster dictionary, the correct definition of the word hero is: “one invested with heroic qualities in the opinions of others” (Webster, 2014). That is a fine definition for book and intellectual minds, but to the average person, however a hero is much more. As time goes on in history, there are more and more heroes. For example, there are more and more real life heroes, fictional characters, etc., so there are more to choose from. In order to become a hero, the current hero has to stand out or be better than the existing heroes. Famous heroes are known to fight crimes, are righteous, brave, very smart, athletic, etc. Heroes do selfless act. But to one person, they can be their hero, but through …show more content…
Though sometimes, the memory of the hero is short-lived because people tend to forget. For example, during a war a solider can save somebody’s life, but at the same time he may lose his own life and be considered a hero. These types of heroes are usually not remembered for long; thus the heroes that make it to the history books are the ones that many will remember. However, examples that gave a long lasting impression that continues today in modern Japan are samurai, such as those of the legend of Benkei: the Loyal Vassal in The Men who Tread upon the Tiger’s Tail, and one of the Seven Samurai, Kuyzo. The Bushido or the way of the samurai code demanded that the warrior live by the principles of duty, loyalty, integrity, honor, justice, courage, and willingness to give one’s life for one’s lord. These heroic portrayals in the film say a lot about the Japanese