The Importance of Heros, Myths, and Legends

"There are truths, that are beyond us, transcendent truths, about beauty, truth, honor, etc. There are truths that man knows exist, but they cannot be seen - they are immaterial, but no less real, to us. It is only through the language of myth that we can speak of these truths." ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

Myths, legends, and stories of heroes such as Greek mythology, The Legend of King Arthur, or J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings are often dismissed merely as fantasy. They are often given no more thought than being simply pleasant distractions, creative imaginings, fun stories, or perhaps even primarily for children.

I contend that myths and legends, the stories that we tell, are a vital and critical component of how we learn and an integral part of sustaining a nation. They enable us to interact with, connect to, and process our experiences, and understand complex ideas and themes. Legends and myths provide an arena for learning about virtue and teaching our children about weighty and nuanced topics such as morality. They help us deal with difficult concepts of good versus evil, as well as help us answer important philosophical questions such as "How do I live a good life?" They also help answer more practical questions like, "What does it mean to be a good friend?"

Among many other characters, Hercules, King Arthur, and Aragorn serve as hero archetypes. They provide an example of what we aspire to be. These heroes exhibit the traits and actions we want to emulate. They exemplify masculinity in the best sense of the word. They are courageous, curious, loyal, kind, empathetic, and wise. They respond to adversity with calm and take action, demonstrating their agency. These heroes use their strength to vanquish monsters and defend those who cannot defend themselves. These heroes exhibit honor, integrity, and leadership.

Classically, although often portrayed as destined to serve a central role, these heroes are not simply born but made. They are formed over time through adversity, facing challenges that shape them into the heroes we encounter in the later parts of their stories.

Hercules completes a series of impossible tasks known as the 12 Labours, ultimately gaining immortality and becoming a god. King Arthur is raised from a boy under the wisdom of the wizard Merlin and leads his kingdom to victory over their adversaries. He forms the Knights of the Round Table to ensure a lasting peace in Camelot. Aragorn spends decades traveling Middle-earth as a ranger, learning about the world and gaining wisdom before he plays a pivotal role in defeating Sauron and ultimately takes his rightful position as the king of Gondor.

Hercules slays the Nemean Lion

Many of the stories we tell our children today lack the same depth. The stories we tell ourselves and our children increasingly seem to have shifted to be more about self-discovery. The protagonist discovers some innate ability or inherits magical powers overnight without struggle, without challenge, and without adversity. All the character has to do is follow their heart, trust their feelings, and look inward for the answers to their problems. This decoupling of the formation of a hero through adversity is a tragedy. Self-discovery, while important, is not the path to forming character, perseverance, resilience, virtue, and becoming a hero or even a good man. Heroes are not born or made with magical powers. Heroes are forged through conscious endeavor and training to develop character, competence, and wisdom.

The need for hero archetypes and stories is critical, especially for boys and young men.

The fewer noble archetypes we tell stories about, the more our sons look to and emulate weak, often loud, men.

The stories we tell ourselves and our children matter. They are part of the foundation of our society.

Stories shape character.

Character shapes culture.

Culture shapes our children and our world.