Holding Out For A Hero

Inspired by Ranulph Fiennes, but constrained by practicalities:  organized an expedition to see the film 'Up!'.  In case you don't know, this is the story of an old man who fulfils his lifelong ambition of visiting South America... by lifting his house with hundreds of helium balloons.  Even if you don't like chidren's cartoons, the graphics are undeniably superb.  The story has all the elements of the hero's quest:  the initial call to adventure;  the departure from the known, overcoming restraints which try to hold him back; the first test, which reveals the true nature of the hero; the ultimate confrontation, in which the monster is vanquished; and the return to society, bearing the boon which is the fruit of his travail.  The basic pattern is varied by the fact that the wise old mentor and young adventurer reverse roles - it is his promise to a child which invokes the old man's better nature and leads to his ultimate salvation. 
The Greek myths provide the most common exemplar of the hero archetype.  Perseus rescuing Andromeda; Theseus and the Minotaur; Herakles and just about any monster that could be attributed to him.... Hollywood loves to draw on this narrative prototype: the Star Wars cycle are some of the best recent examples of the hero genre.  These stories and films allow us to participate vicariously in the heroic venture, safe in the knowledge that everything will ultimately turn out all right. Like a fairground rollercoaster, we share the thrills of the ride without having to deal with any of the actual dangers involved.  There is a positive aspect to this experience.  Although we are passive, we become emotionally involved in the events related.  Through stories like these, we learn the right way to behave in real-life situations where we have to face problems and fears.  When people need to be heroes, the old stories can provide them with a model for action in real life.