Ozzie Freedman Portrayed as a Hero Essay

A hero is somebody who commits an act of remarkably bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character. (Encarta, 2009) Joseph Campbell has come up with eight of his own characteristics of a hero. Joseph Campbell is known as a scholar of mythology. There are several people in our times that are considered a hero. Whether, these heroes are fictional or nonfiction, they all portray some kind of heroic abilities.

According to Merriam-Webster (2015), the word “hero”  is “a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities”. Its origins can be traced back to  myth Greek as”hērōs” in 14th century in oxford-dictionaries(2015). This essay will focus on two male heroes: Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. According to biography online (2013). Lincoln is a retired lawyer had fail negotiation to elicitation slavery right,he oriented himself to politician and was  elected

In the short story “The Conversion of the Jews” by Philip Roth, the tone the author uses for the young boy, Ozzie Freedman, effect how the reader makes up the characteristics and personality of Ozzie. With the tone Roth uses within this character, it is quick to know that he is a very inquisitive young boy with blind faith. The passage states, “What Ozzie wanted to know was always different… Rabbi Binder tried to distinguish for him between political equality and spiritual legitimacy, but what Ozzie wanted to know, he insisted vehemently, was different” (1169). Ozzie is not the kind of boy who you teach and he’ll have complete faith on what has been taught, he’ll question it when something doesn’t seem to add up, just like how he questions

But it doesn’t much matter, because people seem to need heroes; so long as I don’t lose sight of the truth, it might as well be me as anyone else” (Davies 79).

A hero is not only someone with superpowers but can be anyone. It can be anyone like you or me. A hero is someone who is willing to stand up for other people. The book, A Lesson Before Dying, takes place in Louisiana and is about an innocent Black man convicted and sent to the electric chair. In the story there are real people that Ernest Gaines alludes to. Ernest Gaines makes an allusion to Joe Louis and Jackie Robinson. Beside these two, Mamie Till also stepped up and was audacious. They were all fearless and gave hope to many other people because of what they were doing. These heroes took a stand against society and changed the world for everyone.

The “hero’s journey”, coined by Joseph Campbell, is a pattern in the plot structure of literature, myths, and oral tradition in which the hero is consistently faced with similar obstacles and achieves many of the same goals. The first part of the hero’s journey is “The Call.” The hero is usually living a very comfortable and easy life, unaware of the journey ahead. The hero is then faced with a situation or dilemma which eventually causes them to seek change. The hero, at this point, tends to refuse the call to adventure in fear of the unknown. Once the hero has been given the strength to push past the unknown, they have entered the threshold. The hero will experience many challenges and temptations where the hero is tested, eventually reaching “The Abyss,” the most difficult challenge. The hero is then transformed by these trials and returns home to every-day life and begins to contribute to their society. The novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, the protagonist, Janie, experiences the hero’s journey first-hand through overcoming obstacles and transforming herself. In Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, the heroine Janie overcomes many obstacles and is therefore transformed into a self reliant woman.

A hero is one who sets a goal in which takes bravery and dedication in order to achieve. The book The Odyssey written by Homer reveals a story of a true hero. The main character is a man named Odysseus who displays hero characteristics throughout the book. Odysseus is a hero because he returns home with a changed perspective which reflects his heroic abilities, such as his bravery and dedication to return home.

A hero is someone who stands up for what they think is right, serves and protects people, and shows respect for everyone. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a story about Maycomb, Alabama, a small town where most people are prejudiced and racist. An innocent black man is accused of raping a white woman, and only a couple of people believe he did not do it. He is sentenced to death, but a few more people are awakened to how wrong prejudice is. Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are just a few heroes in To Kill a Mockingbird, and they are heroes because they respect and care for others and stand up for what they think is right.

A hero’s faith in others is never a weakness, even if others exploit it. Good and evil aren’t the forces at play here, this is the battle of order and chaos. A hero stands for order and always follows rules. A villain can thrive in chaos and cares only for himself. In a way, the modern day notion of a hero can be connected back to humanity’s beginning. A wild being cares only for itself, an important survival tactic now embodied by villains. Heroism was born when humans banded together, allowing others power over them for the strength of the whole. They trusted each other and became stronger because of it. Humanity is the birth of order from the chaotic wilderness, and heroism is the glue that keeps it

Ozzie desires answers to his questions. Without spiritual questioning, one’s religious beliefs hold no importance. Ozzie’s faith has no backbone. He does not realize his Judaism comes from his mother and that he

To me a hero is someone who can overcome trials and tribulations. A hero is brave enough to face the world and help others in a time of need. Langston Hughes is a good example of a hero because he helped his community and other young people in the world.

However, since the hero is part of society, the journey is also one of personal development. On a more psychological level, one could suggest that the hero’s quest is symbolic of all personal conflict. Conflict begins when a problem arises that must be dealt with. Most people, at first, refuse to come to terms with whatever this problem may be, and attempt to ignore it. With enough mental determination and/or aid from an outside source, however, one can bring themselves to cross the first threshold, and begin their journey into the heart of the problem. For example, victims of rape or other types of abuse must face what is haunting them in order for it to be exorcised properly.

But there was something, either in the sentiment of the discourse itself, or in the imagination of the auditors, which made it greatly the most powerful effort that they had ever heard from their pastor's lips. It was tinged, rather more darkly than usual, with the gentle gloom of Mr. Hooper's temperament. The subject had reference to secret sin. . . .

Rabbi Binder oppresses Ozzie by not allowing free thought on religion. He enforces his views by making sure Ozzie cannot ask difficult questions in class, and possibly spread his ideas to his fellow classmates. In regards to Jesus, Rabbi Binder quickly stops Ozzie’s questions and generalizes that, “We don’t believe he is God (140).” As Ozzie continues to question the Rabbi’s beliefs, the Rabbi decides that he needs to set up a meeting with Ozzie and his mother regarding his disruptive behavior. When learning why Ozzie’s mother has to meet with the Rabbi, “She hit Ozzie across the face with her hand (143).” Rabbi Binder caused problems at home, and used Ozzie’s mother in a manipulative, violent way to stop Ozzie’s dangerous thinking. Violence begins when two parties have a disagreement, and each side believes that they are right. Believing that

In my eyes a hero is a person who shows courage, is humble, does not give up, and is someone everybody can relate to. The protagonist in “The Odyssey” by Homer, Odysseus is a hero because although he is emotional throughout the book and lets his emotions take over his actions, he displays immense courage and perseveres through his journey and hardships.