What Makes a Traditional Hero?
What exactly makes a traditional hero? Our culture seems to have widened the definition of the godlike man who defeats an unspeakable evil creature. Instead, we have a central character that overcomes a conflict through many forms of strength and perseverance, and positively changes her society in one way or another. They often have qualities of kindness, loyalty, and courage that surpass the rest of their peers. However, war stories seem to follow these typical guidelines. Perhaps because these characters do not feel they deserve the title of a hero, that there were too many victims, or tragic heroes, why should the living be elevated?
First, I wanted to focus on Loung Ung’s First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, and how Loung, a child of only five, seems to paint most of her family members as heroes, while herself a naïve child. For instance, Loung’s father seems to fit the idea of the traditional hero. He imparts wisdom, keeps his family safe, maintains humility, and works hard. His character does not have a flaw, even to the point where Khmer Rouge soldiers take him and he does not return. Ung also illustrates her mother as a hero, yet more subtly. Though she often indirectly characterizes her mother as weak, her mother courageously encourages the children to leave their village without her because she knows they are no longer safe there. Her brother, Kim, also displays acts of heroism. He bravely attempts to steal corn at night to provide for the family. About each member of her family seem to demonstrate acts of heroism.
However, Ung portrays herself quite differently. She often disobeys her parents, starts fights with her sister, and once she even stole from the small portion of rice her family had. She survives the war due to her outspoken attitude and hatred of the Khmer Rouge—qualities that a traditional hero generally does not have. I believe Ung portrays herself in a negative way to juxtapose with the heroic qualities of her family members, especially those that do not survive.
Spalding Gray strays drastically from the traditional hero in "Swimming to Cambodia." He goes on a unique journey related to the conflict, but does not actually go through the conflict himself. Because he does not experience the reign of the Khmer Rouge, he portrays himself as a flawed individual seeking simple pleasures. His comical stories are not exactly extravagant, which convey that he is not a typical hero. I believe he does not portray himself as a hero because his lack of experience with the conflict does not give him an opportunity to act heroically. Because he is so uninvolved with the conflict, he illustrates himself as flawed or a typical human in order to not place his experience above the survivors of Cambodia.
First, I wanted to focus on Loung Ung’s First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, and how Loung, a child of only five, seems to paint most of her family members as heroes, while herself a naïve child. For instance, Loung’s father seems to fit the idea of the traditional hero. He imparts wisdom, keeps his family safe, maintains humility, and works hard. His character does not have a flaw, even to the point where Khmer Rouge soldiers take him and he does not return. Ung also illustrates her mother as a hero, yet more subtly. Though she often indirectly characterizes her mother as weak, her mother courageously encourages the children to leave their village without her because she knows they are no longer safe there. Her brother, Kim, also displays acts of heroism. He bravely attempts to steal corn at night to provide for the family. About each member of her family seem to demonstrate acts of heroism.
However, Ung portrays herself quite differently. She often disobeys her parents, starts fights with her sister, and once she even stole from the small portion of rice her family had. She survives the war due to her outspoken attitude and hatred of the Khmer Rouge—qualities that a traditional hero generally does not have. I believe Ung portrays herself in a negative way to juxtapose with the heroic qualities of her family members, especially those that do not survive.
Spalding Gray strays drastically from the traditional hero in "Swimming to Cambodia." He goes on a unique journey related to the conflict, but does not actually go through the conflict himself. Because he does not experience the reign of the Khmer Rouge, he portrays himself as a flawed individual seeking simple pleasures. His comical stories are not exactly extravagant, which convey that he is not a typical hero. I believe he does not portray himself as a hero because his lack of experience with the conflict does not give him an opportunity to act heroically. Because he is so uninvolved with the conflict, he illustrates himself as flawed or a typical human in order to not place his experience above the survivors of Cambodia.