What Makes a Hero? Marvel, Socrates, and the Truth of Christ

This post is written by Veritas junior Laura Cochran. As a sophomore at Veritas last year, her class studied Plato's Republic, and as part of that study they discussed Socrates' view on what kinds of heroes are acceptable in "the education of the guardians." The lack of truly good heroes who are worthy of our youth's admiration was apparent to Socrates in the stories of his time. In light of the immense popularity of Marvel comics' movie franchises this year, Laura examines what makes a true hero both through the eyes of Plato and through a Biblical lens.

“Heroes are made by the path they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”

-Tony Stark

This year, the globally impactful Marvel universe ended its Avengers run leaving millions of fans heartbroken and begging for more. With Avengers: Endgame becoming the highest-grossing film of all time, it is interesting to think about how so many people have come to love this world and its characters so deeply and enthusiastically.

As one of Marvel's fans, I believe the reason their superheroes are loved by millions is because they inspire their viewers and readers to fight for what they believe in.

Marvel gives us extraordinary humans, people with bewildering, inhuman powers to admire. Some might say that this defeats the point and instead makes us humans feel helpless since we lack these powers. This could not be more wrong.

From the release of the first Marvel comic back in 1939 to Avengers: Endgame this year, Marvel’s goal is to show through its stories that it is not the powers that gives the hero strength, but how the hero uses them. In each Marvel story, the hero must face trials and overcome the evil of the world and rise for the good of humanity. From Captain America never backing down from a fight, to Tony Stark sacrificing his life for the mission, Marvel shows its viewers that no matter one’s gifts or talents, everyone is capable of fighting for the truth.

Marvel is excellent at portraying not only heroes who start this way - such as the courageous and selfless Captain America - but also more relatable characters who do not begin as the ideal hero.

For example, Tony Stark started as a selfish and arrogant playboy. It was not until he was taken hostage by terrorists and threatened with death that the desire was placed in him to help others and not just live for himself. Thus Iron Man was born. And Marvel comes full circle with his character development. As stated above, in Iron Man, Tony starts as an egotistical playboy, but in the end, when he had just started living a good life with his wife and daughter, he dies a heroic death, sacrificing his life and happiness for the good of humanity. Tony Stark dies a hero. And through his character growth, Marvel shows how not everyone starts as the perfect hero.

Everyone has his inner demons he is dealing with and trials he must face. Whether it be struggling with bullies at school or with one’s wicked desires, Marvel shows that everyone has a superhero inside them waiting to be unlocked that is capable of defeating every challenge. From Peter Parker to Natasha Romanoff, from Nick Fury to Bucky Barnes, from Peggy Carter to Stephen Strange, from Loki Odinson to Tony Stark, the ultimate message from Marvel is that everyone has the power within themselves to stand strong, help others, and fight for the truth in which he believes.

An Ancient Discussion of Heroes

In light of this, it is quite obvious that this theme of heroism is not originally from Marvel and has been used throughout history many times, from before the Ancient Greek heroes to the present day.

One of the people who has discussed heroism is none other than the famous philosopher Socrates - specifically in Plato’s Republic, a recording of Socrates’ apology or defense. In Plato: The Republic, Socrates must defend himself from accusations of being a corruption to the people of Athens, since he never let popular opinion slide and was always questioning the political authorities. During his long apology, his accusers keep asking him to stop philosophizing but he replies with his famous statement that the unexamined life is not worth living.

Socrates goes on to use his famous “cave” allegory to describe why he must keep teaching the ignorant the truth. Picture in your head a mass of people who were born in a cave and have lived strapped to seats their entire lives. They can not twist their heads much less stand and move. They can only sit and watch the shadows dance across the cave’s wall. Above them are other people, but these men are freely moving and they are the ones who cast the shadows. Outside the cave is the sun (the truth), but the prisoners have never been exposed to it; they do not know anything exists aside from the man-made fire’s shadows, the man-made “truth.”

In this scenario, the shadow casters - the puppeteers - are the corrupt politicians and rulers who pull all the strings and the prisoners are those who are ignorant of the real truth and are brainwashed by them. Socrates then goes on to say that it is his obligation to go down into the cave and bring the prisoners, the ignorant, up and out into the light of the truth. Socrates here is risking his life by declaring this.

And he doesn't stop there. He goes on to boldly state that it is every man’s duty as a human being that once he knows the truth he must be selfless, go down into the cave, and bring up others into the truth. And is this not what being a hero is all about? Is not heroism sacrificing your life if need be to save the helpless from their captors and show them the truth of life?

Marvel uses its characters to portray what a hero is and how everyone has the power and responsibility, just as Socrates said, to help the weak and ignorant discover the truth. But what is the truth?

Christ: The Ultimate Hero

For Christians, there is only one possible answer. Yes everyone has the power inside to stand for what is right... but who put that power there? Who gave you the will to be selfless and go help others? No one on earth has that power except Jesus Christ our Savior, who was the first to go down, die for us, and save us - the weak and helpless - and bring us into the light of His Truth showing that no one else’s acts, not Tony Stark’s, nor Socrates’, or anyone else’s imaginable could compare to what Christ has done for His people.

This is the truth that all Christians have the responsibility to spread to the ignorant. And this why stories like those in the Marvel universe, with heroes like Tony Stark, can be so impactful to the world. Without even realizing it, the world is watching many of their favorite characters mimic Christ’s actions. Believe it or not, Marvel, and other beloved, epic stories and series of our time, have Christ figures. And without even knowing it, their characters are subtly spreading the Truth of Christianity in a lesser form, that the heroes on screen (just like many real-world heroes like Socrates) were and are out there laying down their lives for their people, just as Jesus did for His.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

-Jesus, Matt. 28:19-20

Are you looking for a school that will challenge your child to think deeply and Biblically about the world around them? One that inspires them to search for truth, beauty, and goodness and requires them to pursue excellence in what they read and how they learn? Consider Classical Christian Education at Veritas Academy, where your child will be cultivated by highly skilled, thoughtful teachers to become a loving, serving, thinking student. At a school tour, you'll be able to see our students and teachers in action to discover how your child could thrive at Veritas.

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