Hero. This word conjures up images of mighty warriors charging into battle; but what makes a true hero? A hero fights evil, helps the unfortunate, and is merciful to those he has defeated. As shown in the novel Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott, these characteristics are as much a part of Ivanhoe as are his warhorse and suit of armour.
The hero “rushes to the fray as if he were summoned to a banquet”, and is “the stay of the oppressed, the redresser of grievances, the curb of the power of the tyrant.” The hero goes out of his way to aid the outcasts and the defenseless. Though ruthless when fighting evil, when a conquered enemy is at the hero’s mercy, no harm will come to him. “[The] hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”[1] A hero battles evil, is kind to the downtrodden, and shows mercy to those he has overcome.
Ivanhoe certainly does his share of fighting evil. He makes his entrance into the novel during a joust, where he proceeds to challenge, and subsequently unhorse, the oppressive Norman lords. After being wounded in battle, he is distraught at his inability to protect his father and sweetheart from their captors. Later, when his wound has partially healed, he senses an “apprehension of approaching evil,” and deeming the danger more pressing than his physical comfort and health, he rides off to challenge this menace. This leads him to a scene of great injustice, where an innocent woman, Rebecca the Jewess, is about to be killed. Rising to the challenge, Ivanhoe jousts on her behalf, defeating the evildoers, and so saves her life. Ivanhoe seizes every opportunity to fight evil.
Helping the unfortunate, Ivanhoe shows another heroic quality. In the Middle Ages, Jews were despised, avoided by everyone, loved by no one. Though the Jews were considered untouchable, Ivanhoe repeatedly comes to their aid, from guiding Isaac through the forest, to fighting for Rebecca’s safety. In fact, he has a reputation among the Jews of being “a good youth,” one who “hath compassion for the exile of Jacob.” This is remarkable, when considering that most would not even acknowledge a Jew’s existence, much less go out of their way to show him kindness. Showing care for one not as high on society’s ladder, Ivanhoe chooses Gurth, a lowly pig boy, to be his close friend and companion. Ivanhoe’s interactions with these “unimportant” people reveal his heroic attitude.
Ivanhoe shows great mercy to enemies whom he has defeated in battle. When, following the custom, Ivanhoe’s conquered opponents bring him their horses and armour, he refuses them, but mercifully returns them to their owners. He turns down significant gifts to show mercy. When in his final joust, his opponent dies, Ivanhoe refuses to despoil the man of his weapons, but instead leaves him with dignity. Ivanhoe respects his opponents, and does not wish to humiliate them.
Ivanhoe fights evil at every turn, yet shows compassion to those less fortunate, and bestows mercy on vanquished adversaries. Ivanhoe is a hero.
[1]
Christopher Reeve
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