Bonnie Tyler's 1986 hit "Holding Out for a Hero" struck a chord with many during the 1980's.The 1980's saw the release of hit movies like the Indiana Jones trilogy, Star Wars (Episode IV released in 1977), the Karate Kid movies, The Last Starfighter, Tron, and The Princess Bride, and TV series like The Greatest American Hero. Recently, there has been a spate of movies based on comic book heroes: The Dark Knight trilogy, Thor, Iron Man, Green Lantern, and Captain America. Superman continues to be a popular character in movies and television.

Nor are our modern heroes so different from the heroes of the past. The relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, two tough men, who fight each other only to become best friends, is familiar to all of us. We can understand Gilgamesh's fear of death and his desire for immortality. We can sympathize with Achilles' embarassment at having his prize of honor stolen from him and understand the hubris that led him to sit out the war. We may struggle with Rama's decision to set aside his wife, but we can understand the conflict he faced in choosing between his personal wishes and the demands of his society. Modern producers still make movies about Seigfried, Beowulf, and Arthur. And the great tragic plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides are still performed for modern audiences.

People need heroes. Heroes remind us that, despite the odds against us, we can succeed. And heroes inspire us to reach for greatness ourselves.