Modern day heroes compared to the ancient Greek heroes share manysimilarities. They are seen as extraordinary, “ god- like”, brave, noble, powerful, invincible; the list is endless. There is one defining factor thatthese heroes have in common, most of them have one fatal flaw. The Greek hero Achilles, is a demi- god who is dipped in the riverStyx by his mother. His mother accidentally holds him by his heel and his heelbecomes his weakness. Achilles is the strongest and most heroic soldier in theTrojan War. The modern-day hero Superman, shares many similarities with themythic hero, Achilles.
Superman’s home planet is Krypton and he came to Earth beforehis home planet, Krypton, destructed. Superman has a vast amount of powers, buthis fatal flaw is Kryptonite. Kryptonite takes away all of Superman’s powersand if he is exposed to it for too long, it can kill him. Both heroes endurelife changing journeys that give them their heroic qualities.
Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, believes that for acharacter to be considered a hero, they must go through certain stages of “ thehero’s journey” (Campbell). They must be called to adventure, refuse the call, andhave supernatural aide (Campbell). Modern- day authors still use this theory tobase their hero stories off because Campbell’s theory is based off thesuccessful and well- known Greek mythology epic hero stories.
Superman andAchilles both get a call for an adventure and are both put in a situation wherethey can refuse it. Achille’s mother had a vision of him dying in war, and alsoAchilles had a feud with Agamemnon about refusing to go into battle. Achillesobtains supernatural aide from the goddess, Athena. Athena’s help is a turningpoint in the war and aides Achilles as he defeats Hector of Troy. When Campbellwas composing his theory, he intended the stage of having supernatural aide forthe Greek heroes, causing it not to imply as much to Superman.
Superman’s aide isnot as direct but can be implied as his invincible powers and his knowledge. Theseadventures that they go on play a key role in their hero status. Supermanperforms heroic actions when stopping Lex Luther and also when protectingcivilians from the earthquakes. These events aid and support Superman’sdeserved title of hero.
Like Superman, Achilles goes through an episode where he fights Hector and defeats him, makinghim qualify as a hero. Both the heroes portray amazing strengths but the modern- day herostory has an underlying difference when compared to an ancient Greek hero myth. Superman is self- aware and knows his limits or weaknesses. Achilles did not.
He is brave and bold but his lack in awareness leads him to his death by apoisonous arrow to his one weak spot, his heel. Superman is sometimes claimed as the modern- day Achilles. Withmany similarities linking the two hero stories together, they also have adifference. Even though they both go through the stages of a “ hero’s journey”, it comes down to whichhero knows themselves better and their own limits.