Who is a Hero worthy of emulation?
Lord of the Rings is the finest multi-volume examination of heroism out there. If you accept the definition of a hero as a person who sacrifices their own wants and needs for the good of others (a broad enough definition, covering everyone from Mom to Audie Murphy). You don’t have to contrast the ultimate hero, Frodo, with Sauron, though that works. Sam Gamgee and Denethor will do. The films and books are close enough on these characters to be interchangeable. There’s no question that, given his druthers, Sam Gamgee would happily stay in Hobbiton with his days in the garden and nights in the Green Dragon. Sam doesn’t even understand the real nature of the ring and the threat from Mordor at first, it’s all wrapped up with old tales of elves and kings and oliphants, but Mr. Frodo believes that they must go to Mordor, and his duty is to Mr. Frodo. When Frodo is threatened, mild-mannered and joking Sam always grows in stature into the fiercest, most terrible warrior of the epic. The image
