Hero Archetype

According to Henderson (1968), a student of Carl G. Jung, the "myth of the hero is the most common and well known myth in the world" (p. 101). Myth in this sense refers to the story of the hero – from his humble beginnings to his journey and finally his ascension to hero. Henderson acknowledges that the hero archetype or schema has existed in cultures spanning the globe since history began. He contends, "these hero myths vary enormously in detail, but the more one closely examines them the more one sees they are structurally very similar. They have... a universal pattern, even though they were developed by groups or individuals without a direct cultural contact with each other..." (p. 101). What has been referenced here by Henderson
The narration or ritual repetition of sacred texts and ceremonies, and the worship of such a figure... exalt the individual to an identification with the hero” (p. 68). This idea creates the basis for our understanding of the hero. The hero archetype is, at its most rudimentary level, the framework of an individual who combats the forces of evil. Jung goes on to note the unavoidable emotional connection and reaction this archetype can evoke in a person. These ideas or myths of heroes have been ingrained in the human psyche. Heroic images and schemas are hard-wired into the human psyche and "are in fact symbolic representations of the whole psyche, the larger and more comprehensive identity that supplies the strength that the personal ego lacks" (Hen derson, 1968, p. 101). This cursory understanding of the origins of the heroic myth provides the context for our understanding of what comprises a hero. Which in turn provides the lens through which soldier-heroes are examined throughout this
In this case a hero goes above and beyond anything a normal human would encounter on a daily basis. One aspect of a hero could be defined as a person whose actions directly result in saving the life of another person at great personal risk. Sullivan and Venter (2005) go on to suggest that heroes are born when their acts are viewed as “unattainable by most others” (p. 102). In this sens e we understand that while life-saving is a heroic act, a hero is defined by his/her unique actions in a given situation, or by a heroic act which no one else is willing to undertake, usually due to the risk factor. 6 In their 2009 study, Harvey, Erdos and Turnbull suggest, “acts may be thought heroic... [when] relating to courage, bravery and altruism” (p. 313). They posit that courage manifests itself through heroic action by way of means to attain a desired outcome. They reconfirm the risk aspect by stressing that heroic acts are often hazardous to the hero. Harvey et al. (2009), summarize their conceptualization of heroism in this way: “Heroism can be viewed as a highly moral behavior that has been explained as a form of sensation seeking, altruism, citizenship and bravery and a desirable but sometimes non-adaptive response in Darwinian terms”