True Heroes of Literature: Atticus Finch, Macduff, and the Speaker in

Heroes are typically identified as firemen or police officers -- those who outwardly display courage and strength. While strength and courage are admirable, and even heroic traits, the distinguishing quality of a genuine hero is his/her selflessness. A hero is a person who does the right thing when no one is looking. In literature, there are the heros that are identified for obvious reasons and those that are overlooked because they do not fit a specific criteria. All good literature features a â€Å"backstage† hero, whose actions are not meant to reap personal gain. Possessing moral courage, a true hero does the right thing in the face of adversity. Through altruistic deeds, Atticus Finch, Macduff, and the speaker in â€Å"Porphyria’s Lover† all embody the true definition of a hero. Told through the perspective of his children, To Kill a Mockingbird, showcases Atticus Finch, a lawyer, who is a well respected, moral and righteous man living in a small town in the deep South in the 1930’s. Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused of rape. Because of the nature of the crime and the prejudice in ...