A Matter of Principle: Everybody Loves a hero

By QAROL PRICE

“Everybody loves a hero… I believe there’s a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble.” — May Parker, Spider-Man II

Why do you suppose superhero movies are so wildly popular? Yes, there’s the spectacle of colorful costumes and the stunning special effects. But to become some of the highest grossing films of all time, there must be something more going on with these movies that tickles our collective fancies!

Well, I believe it is the same thing that makes stories about Hercules and David and Goliath still relevant today. As Aunt May says in Spider-Man II, “Everybody loves a hero.”

Not only is it especially satisfying to see evil conquered, but we marvel (no pun intended), at what great risk, sacrifice and pain a hero is willing to endure to serve something greater than him or herself.

But I think it goes even deeper than that. There is something tantalizing about the literary or cinematic walk we take in the boots of a superhero. We are stirred by these stories because they beckon to our own hero within. Deep down we know that greatness awaits if we dare to venture outside our comfort zone.

Courage is not just the will to face death defying situations, or to save the planet. To a great extent, these epic movies are metaphors for our own personal battles. Many of these battles, as we learn from Christian theology, are with the seven deadly sins of greed, pride, envy, gluttony, lust, wrath and sloth.

Feeding and fighting temptations probably make up the lion’s share of these battles that require this mighty weapon of courage. Why courage? Because we need that “something” to yank us out of our comfort zone. Courage is that “something.”

Courage is the willingness to face a range of discomforts, to do what is right and wholesome. It’s the antidote to bullying and road rage. It is necessary to a couch potato’s salvation. It’s the charm against cheating and the fix to addictions. But where does this will to overcome our vices come from? After all, having the desire to have willpower is not the same as exercising it. So how can it be activated?

Perhaps understanding the origin of the word “courage” can help us. The Oxford Dictionary shows us that “courage” is a Middle English word from the Old French “corage” which stems from the Latin “cor” meaning “heart.”

How does “heart” have anything to do with all this tough talk? Well, we’ve all heard it said that the opposite of love is not hate but is fear. It would seem then, that love has the power to cast out fear just as courage disregards it. So how can the will be activated? What propels it to act? It is by way of the greatest superpower of all – love. Love conquers all. Especially the villains!

⋆ Next Month: Honesty

Qarol Price is a writer and educator. She has taught philosophy to children in Johnston County Public Schools and in Harlem in New York City. She is a resident of Selma, and can be reached at QarolPrice@virtueworks.org.