Thursday, January 29, 2015

How does Carlyle depict the qualities of a hero in his essay "On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History"?

On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History was written by Thomas Carlyle. It is comprised of a collection of lectures that Carlyle delivered to London audiences in 1840. In these lectures, Carlyle explains his unique opinion about what the state of the world would be if heroic, inspirational, and admirable people could influence events and shape the course of history. In his essay, Carlyle describes the quintessential hero as someone who is a visionary and progressive. It is someone who has the willingness to be the change that he or she wishes to see in the world and take action to effect that change. Part of the reason that Carlyle views the definition of a hero from this perspective is because he is contemptuous toward the civilization of people around him. He believes that they do not have the willpower to make a meaningful impact in society which advances human progress.
In Carlyle's mind, religious leaders, talented poets, and military generals can all be considered heroes, despite their differing roles in society. Carlyle believes that heroes are all men who practice what they preach and also apply their knowledge toward progressive goals. He places equal value on people who take heroic action in any form in society, whether the goal is an economic one, a political one, or a religious one. He also depicts ordinary people who loyally follow leaders in society as heroes themselves. In his estimation, knowing when and how to follow is just as important as being a leader, because heroes are people who need the help of others for cooperation and achievement. Based on these views, Carlyle disagrees with Friedrich Nietzsche, who argues for the power of self-determination among individuals based on their own efforts and not the cooperation of others in society.
Carlyle also believes that heroes are caring about the condition of others. Carlyle's conception of the definition of heroism is quite broad, and it encompasses service to people. The ultimate goal, according to Carlyle, is the cooperation of selfless leaders and willing followers for achieving progress in society. Carlyle believes that cannot be achieved without those important role players. Societies move forward economically, politically, and religiously through this cooperation, in his mind.

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