Hero-Anti Hero

Superman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman—what do all these characters have in common? They are all products of the human aspiration to be saved. The word hero is passed around too much these days. A hero is not a football player that scores the game-winning touchdown or the goaltender who saves his team from a loss. A hero is usually an ordinary person that did extraordinary things. A true hero is really never a hero at all; at least not in their own mind. However, there are various cases today in which we see the exact opposites of these characters, the anti-heroes. The anti-hero is one who cannot be classified as a hero, for that said character lacks natural heroic qualities. However, the anti-hero cannot be described as a villain either. Although this particular individual may have some of the personality flaws traditionally assigned to villains, the anti-hero may have heroic intentions to gain the sympathy of the audience. Anti-heroes can be awkward, obnoxious, passive, or dishonest—but they are always, in some way, flawed. A prime example of a hero in today’s society is Jerry Lewis. An American comedian, famous for his entertaining sense of humor, and most importantly, his charity fund-raising telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Jerry Lewis has also won many Lifetime Achievement Awards from The American Comedy Awards, The Golden Camera, Los Angeles Film Critics Association and The Venice Film Festival. Aside from his career as a comedian he has done much charitable work. He suffered years of back pain, battled prostate cancer, diabetes, pulmonary fibrosis, and as two heart attacks. It is safe to say that Jerry Lewis has had his share of health problems throughout his lifetime. He helped establish the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1952, and has organized a Labor Day telethon to help raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1966. His efforts have helped raise approximately two billion dollars for neuromuscular patient care and