Media Log: A Hero Amidst

Media Log # 1

What is a Hero? What is the purpose of being Hero? Simple. Hero is often defined a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. Clearly this means that Heroes are those people who we the common folk should look up on. For they are people who had proven themselves worthy of admiration and had saved us in when we are in dire need.

But let's not get into that tedious mess of word by word explanation rather let's make do with this, What is a Hero for me? Plain and simple, to me a Hero is someone who can express himself(or herself for that matter) freely and is not afraid to step up for his friends/family.

The reason why I defined what a Hero is to me is to give a general idea of who I am about to mention. Perseus "Percy" Jackson.

As to why I chose someone "fictional" as my hero, well its because as a character this guy pretty much sums it up. Unlike other lore-related heroes Percy feels Human to me. As to why that is well let's give a brief summary of this guy's adventures ...

So to begin with Percy was born into a "broken household" with only her mom as his respite to his life. He was diagnosed with dyslexia and AHDH which caused him misfortunes in his everyday life in school. Unknown to him that those "qualities" are what made him special. Fast track towards the future Percy learned he was a descendant of the gods and that he is a demigod - being that his father was a Greek god of the old. Percy now faces the threat of being annihilated by monster who are attracted to his "demigod scent".

The video above is from the movie, I wouldn't recommend it though but this is technically one of his greatest "hits". Besides the film differentiates largely from the books, much to my dismay.(And in this blog I'm going to talk about the books not the film but whatever just watch the awesome tidal wave!).

Percy had been the Lightning Thief, he had sailed through the Sea of Monsters, he survived the Titan's curse, had fought in the Battle of the Labyrinth and even met with The Last Olympian.  He did amazing feats such as beating Ares- the god of war- in single combat, protecting his best friend Grover and several other friendly mythological beings tossed in front of him. He also became a half-immortal and can only be mortally wounded when struck in his Achilles' Heels and many other stuff involving gods, monsters, angry mortals and more monsters.

One specific event that I would like to share is when Percy was trapped in an island. It was an enchanted Island of course bearing the name Ogygia. It was then he met the goddess-like Calypso who nursed him to health and gave him her hospitality. They then share stories about how he ended up there and why she was there in the first place. To not spoil much of the book Percy promised Calypso that he would free her of the burden she has on her shoulders. That pretty much sums up why I like Percy, one I love promises and two it was the sweetest thing he could do for her.

My favorite part of his Heroic nature or rather "the thing that makes him human" is rather cliche'd in a sense that it doesn't surprise me anymore at the same time it gives me satisfaction. Percy in his last battle in Manhattan, has proven his bravery to the gods that Zeus himself acknowledged him and offered him immortality. Percy being that lovable character refused it downright after a short debate with the reason being ... wait for it... Annabeth Chase! or we can simply say he valued his human life.

But the reason why I really looked up to him as a Hero is one of his specific trait. In the books they called it his Fatal Flaw - which is the mental or physical weakness of a god, demigod, or immortal. To me though this Flaw is something that I lacked so I probably longed for it. Either way his flaw is "To save a friend, I would sacrifice the world". To me this kind of thing can only be done by Hero although the traditional Hero would probably be backwards. But that is what makes it unique in a sense that being a Hero is not uniquely tied down to saving the greater mass. Its saving those that matter to you. Saving the friends and people who have stood by your side in good and bad. It is that specific trait that led me to honor Percy as a Hero... Although he already is one in the books.

To sum it up, Percy is a Hero because of the many achievements that he has and all that he went through to get it. From a simple misunderstood kid to a Hero of Olympus. well what more can you ask for ?

Though just to add, my definition of someone being Heroic is different from others due to several reasons I will not disclose so if you feel that I violated your definition of a Hero or of Percy I'm sorry to say that's my opinion.

Also if given the chance to pick other Heroes I would probably choose those who are not afraid of sacrificing others to save what they truly want to save, since for me fighting for the minority that cares about you is better than fighting for the majority who are against you.

With that I end my first Media Log, Signing out
John

"A Hero is simply someone who would own up for his own beliefs and fight for it till the bitter end"

Reference/s:
http://camphalfblood.wikia.com/wiki
http://dictionary.reference.com
http://www.rickriordan.com/my-books/percy-jackson/percy-jackson-olympians.aspx