SuitabookHeroism as a measure of values
Heroes are presented as figures who embody the qualities that different societies admire and seek.
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Book details
Hamilton Wright Mabie - Author
A reflective introduction to heroism, arguing that heroes express what societies value most. It may invite readers to look beyond fame towards the qualities represented by admired men and women.
From the book:If there had been no real heroes there would have been created imaginary ones, for men cannot live without them. The hero is just as necessary as the farmer, the sailor, the carpenter and the doctor; society could not get on without him. There have been a great many different kinds of heroes, for in every age and among every people the hero has stood for the qualities that were most admired and sought after by the bravest and best; and all ages and peoples have imagined or produced heroes as inevitably as they have made ploughs for turning the soil or ships for getting through the water or weapons with which to fight their enemies. To be some kind of a hero has been the ambition of spirited boys from the beginning of history; and if you want to know what the men and women of a country care for most, you must study their heroes. To the boy the hero stands for the highest success: to the grown man and woman he stands for the deepest and richest life.
Book Brief
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Sign in for personalised guidanceA reflective introduction to heroism, arguing that heroes express what societies value most. It may invite readers to look beyond fame towards the qualities represented by admired men and women.
Heroes are presented as figures who embody the qualities that different societies admire and seek.
The passage links heroism with spirited boys’ ambitions, the highest success and a deep, rich life for adults.
The opening uses broad claims about heroes, society and human ambition, and refers to weapons used against enemies. Consider how confidently these ideas are presented and whose experiences may be left outside them.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: the current material supports only a cautious reading; another book-specific source is still needed.
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