Although the notion of heroism is well known and superheroes are popular as ever. I do feel obliged to hold forth on perspective, I find more expressive and true to my soul. James Freeman Clarke an American advocate of human rights and the author to speech “True Manliness” painted an image of everyday hero I build myself to be. For what the reason behind all talk of heroism if not the growth of one’s spirit to evince that the hero is not just a fairy tale.
Bringing back the speech “True Manliness”, I want my reader and myself to venture into the realm of duality prospected by J. F. Clark and apprehend differences of False and True manliness.
“The giants and dragons today are those cruelties and brutalities which use their power to ill-treat those who are at their mercy.”, by these words author frames the existence of heroes in eternal confrontation with the forces of evil. “False manliness is unfeeling, with no kindly sympathies, rude and rough and overbearing.”, lines by which evil is gifted with flesh, blood and bones we all are familiar with. Such an ominous person might seem strong and manly but frequently they are brutal to the weak.
J.F. Clark describes “True manliness” as humane and identical in all times with the spirit of chivalry. Being an advocate of human rights in the 19th century, J.F. Clark was the embodiment of humanism. He fought to give working women their rights, save children from bad usage and provide help to the poor and handicapped people. “Bold as lions in the defense of the right”, by his own words to the idols of his time, I want to name him in my turn. That is not all he had to say about “True manliness”. These quotes I enjoy the most: “True manliness is tender and loving.”, “such man in their homes and their private life have a womanly gentleness.”
My hero. To say that James Freeman Clarke is my hero would be only a partial truth. The abstract entity possessed by “True manliness” is. This way I embrace not only one man as my hero, but all those who are worthy.