The heroes of movies, myths, comics have always aroused admiration and a great attraction to spectators. Not only children are taken by the courage, boldness and determination of these characters. Adults of all ages are surrounded by the fascinating atmosphere of the heroes who excel in the pursuit of victory.
Such attraction is not for nothing, the character designed in speech stories directly with our inner hero. On one level, often unconscious, we all recognize the archetype of the hero, which is a concept of Jungian Psychology. According to Murray Stein:
"The hero is a basic human standard - also characteristic of both women and men - who demands the sacrifice of the" mother, meaning a passive childish, and assumes the responsibilities of life and facing the reality of an adult way. The archetype of the hero requires the abandonment of this fanciful children's thinking and insists that we accept the reality of an active way. "
This means, among other things, that all of us at different times of life, we need to give up the known and comfortable place to meet the new, leaving the passive place for an active movement. When we see this process happening in the stories, regardless of character, plot or setting, we know what it is because unconsciously also experienced in real life several challenging situations and know how rich they may be.
What can we learn from the hero?
The hero always has much to tell us. The main character repeatedly enters the adventure a little insecure, without recognizing itself the potential necessary to meet the challenges that await. In many stories he gets help during the course and as you overcome the challenges, will also maturing and discovering. Recognizes itself that has the potential and becomes more secure and aware of their identity. We can see this in The Matrix, Harry Potter or the Arthurian myth Guinglain.
Like the main character of the stories we do not always feel prepared to face the challenges of real life. In a marriage, for example, even when the desire for union is legitimate, it is common to see the insecure boyfriends, uncertain of the decision as the wedding date approaches. That feeling is natural, leaving the role of children, the known home environment, to take an emotional, social and financial commitment that marriage proposed is not simple, but is part of the maturing process. This is also the separation, in pregnancy, new employment, change of city. It is the way that we realize that we can account for the liability of our desires.
But the lesson of the hero also has its comforting hand that it is not necessary to face it alone.
In Harry Potter, for example, the whole journey is permeated by characters that help you achieve your ultimate goal, some with information and knowledge that it does not have, others defending the dangers and still others doing the work that he could not. Recognize in real life the help of friends, family, knowledge, money, or any other, and value them, is a great lesson in real life which makes it less heavy and can journey to complete it.
"When we refer to the archetype of the hero, we have an interesting reference: the hero never realize all alone. Always gets the "supernatural aid" or the help of friends. So when we understand that the myths are exemplary models (according to Eliade), which guide us in how to react in different situations of life, we have an excellent reference tool beyond individual experience. "
Maturation
Life compels us to maturity. There are several situations that put us ahead of the challenging changes and it is up to us to choose the way forward.
The important thing is to realize that not go in the direction of what carries us, leads to frustration and consequently to stagnation and paralysis of the natural movement of life.
The hero gives us the right track that we can abandon the idea of being hostages of fate and become autonomous, authors of our own history.