We can easily get sucked into action films, such as Batman, Avatar or Iron Man. Many children want to be like the heroes of these films. They dress up to look like them on Halloween. Some even sleep in their favorite hero's outfit. Unfortunately, today's society has lost the true meaning of heroism. In an essay titled Hollywood's Hero Deficit, by James Bowman, the author laments the loss of true heroism. Bowman states that: “Heroism can only continue to exist on a plane far removed from the everyday life of the public. » Real heroes are not violent warriors. They are trying to do what is right. Heroes, like Odysseus, have a noble quest: to return home. Heroes are intelligent, not quarrelsome. Today's view of "heroism" can only exist in fairy tales, because today's heroes only demonstrate courage through violence. Worse still, these acts of bravery make the hero happy. The pure heroism that comes from moral victories has been missing from today's society for several decades and has impoverished our society. Odysseus exemplifies the aspects of true heroism, namely his cunning, witty, and shrewd mind. He also plays a brilliant leader. Among the many adventures that Odysseus endures, his encounter with the Cyclops best embodies his heroism. Odysseus landed on the island and led his men to the Cyclops' cave. When the giant Polyphemus returned, Odysseus took the lead and spoke to the Cyclops. When the Cyclops asked where Odysseus's boat was, he replied humorously: "My boat? Poseidon, the god of earthquakes, broke my ship, he drove it against the rocks far off the cape of your island, he dashed it against a cliff as the winds carried us away” (Homer 220). This brilliant response then saved the men on the boat from being captured and eaten by the Cyclops....... middle of paper ......n the idea of ​​heroism in the 20th and 21st century n exists only as a fantasy, separated from real life? If we accept the current "idea of ​​heroism" as that of a brutal and happy fighter, then we can conclude that this can only exist far from our lives, because this type of hero does not exist. Unfortunately, the answer must be yes. Works cited by Homer. The Odyssey. Robert Fagles Edition. New York, New York: The Penguin Group. 1977. Print.Monson, Thomas S. “True Happiness Is Found at Home.” » October 8, 1988. Thomas, Liz. “Violent films are responsible for the wave of knife crime,” criticizes Sir Richard Attenborough. » Daily Mail. September 2, 2008. Online Mail, Web. January 30, 2010.knife-crime-wave-blasts-Sir-Richard-Attenborough.html>.