The Presence and Power of the Hero Theme in Cultural Myth. A Reflection of a Culture's Values?

Essay from the year 2015 in the subject Cultural Studies - Basics and Definitions, grade: 1, , course: Mythology, language: English, abstract: In this study the author explores how myths can reveal a culture¿s value system and what they believe an ideal member of their society would be like. Though there are many similarities between the hero myths from each culture, their differences are what will convey the unique attributes and beliefs of a specific culture. This research addresses issues of myth origins and the social interplay between myth and the individuals of a culture. The hero myth has always played a major role in popular culture and has influenced thousands of stories that have been told and written in novels, movies, as well as comic books. The hero figure is so deeply embedded in the collective social conscience that it is hard to believe what a society would look like without it. Because of the profound impact the hero has on a culture, a researched study on its influence at the individual, societal and even global level yields an abundance of information that inform other areas of study such as psychology, religiosity, biology and many more.