Hercules. Hero… or Not?

Although he is seen as Greece’s greatest hero, Hercules’s lack of forethought and control makes him a poor hero by modern standards. For example, when Hercules’s teachers begin to educate him at a young age, “he dislike[s] his music master [and flies] into a rage with him” even though his teacher had done nothing wrong. Hardly aware of his strength, Hercules allows his furious emotions take control of him to kill the innocent musician. Nowadays, no one could ever consider a hero someone who murders his teacher just because they lose control; on the contrary, they would feel anger, disgust, or even fear towards that person. Later on Hercules’s life, while he stays at King Admetus’s house just after the King’s wife dies, Hercules “[gets] drunk, [makes] merry… when the man he care[s] for [is] crushed with grief.” He thoughtlessly becomes drunk and enjoys a happy feast without bothering to think about who is dead or how the death can disturb his friend. A real hero is not only a person with super strength, but it is also, in many occasions, a simple friend who asks what is wrong and comforts them when they are going through a rough time. Subsequent to his victory at King Eurytus’s city, as a splendid robe given to him by Deianira’s messenger seizes him in great pain, Hercules reveals poor heroism when he “turns on Deianira’s messenger, who [is] … completely innocent” and fully blames him for all the pain the robe alone brings. Hercules’s fury blinds him of his actions again by killing the innocent messenger without knowing of his innocence. He acts out of impulse without thinking of the fatal consequences his actions can provoke. Although Hercules is a very strong and brave person, he is considered as an inadequate hero because of his insufficient self-control which leads him to make crucial decisions that often harm others.

This was for a project in my English class. I don’t dislike Hercules or anything, but although he was really strong, there were small things I didn’t like about him.