True Heroism In William Golding's 'Lord Of The Flies'

Sai Chilukuri

Mr. Winsheimer

English 10H

2 June 2023

True Heroism in Literature

Arthur Ashe, the first African- American to win a tennis championship, who proved to be a hero and inspiration for many once said "True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." Arthur Ashe’s statement contemplates what makes a true hero. In the realm of literature, the concept of heroism has been extensively explored, shedding light on the characteristics that define a true hero. While the portrayal of a hero may differ across the novels, it is ultimately someone with unwavering courage, bravery, and selflessness. A true hero, as portrayed in literary

Bravery is a defining part of a true hero, one that sets them apart from the rest. For example, in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ralph, after getting trapped by Jack's group, gets stabbed with a spear and "The point tore the skin and flesh over Ralph's ribs, then sheared and fell off in the water…Ralph turned and ran" (Golding 225). Despite being wounded and at a disadvantage, Ralph shows exceptional bravery by pushing through the pain and running towards safety. This quote highlights Ralph's bravery because even when facing great danger, he perseveres and does not give up in the most challenging times, as most would have which makes him a hero. Bravery was also exemplified in the tragedy Macbeth written by William Shakespeare when after the war

For example, in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ralph tries to establish order and structure on the island as the group leader. However, the boys do not obey the rules or act appropriately. Ralph disagrees with the boys' savage behavior and states, "Which is better- to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?" (Golding 223). Ralph was willing to challenge the other boys and their desire for violence. Instead, he advocates against violence and more towards a civilized life which displays Ralph's courage to stand up for what he believes in, even if it means he has to fight against a majority to make a positive impact, and shows why he is a hero. This can also be seen in George Orwell's Animal Farm when he argues that "Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever." (Orwell 8). Old Major, the highly respected pig on the farm, was trying to inspire the other animals to rebel against humans. He instilled his beliefs into them so they no longer have to suffer. Although the pigs are at a disadvantage in power, numbers, and size, he was courageous enough to stand up for what he believes in. This makes him a hero because he inspired a revolution against humans, the first of its kind. Although the farm ended up as the opposite of what Old Major hoped it would be, he still tried to make a positive impact on the farm which