but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly”. Such wit adds to the character of the “British Hero”.
However, success is not necessarily a requirement of being a “British Hero.” Many a hero has fallen in the line of duty or failed in their quest. One such is Captain Scott who led the ill fated race to the pole and is still seen as one of the most heroic Britons. His heroic status was confirmed by his final journal entry, which also revealed his patriotism and secured his status as a British hero: "We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for." Churchill: the wit of a “British hero.”
However as is the case with all kinds of people, the type of hero idealised by the public has changed as time as passed. The knight in shining armour, such as Henry V, winning a heroic victory on the fields near Agincourt, was once the typical hero of all people. Many more now have turned to worship sporting stars or musicians. This raises the question- is a hero perfect? Henry V, despite achieving glory on the battlefield, ordered that the prisoners taken be executed. Churchill ordered thousands of Italians and Germans to be interned in prison camps in Britain upon outbreak of war. Perhaps this scarring on an otherwise perfect canvas distinguishes the British hero as someone special and allows people to interact with them. A perfect God-like figure is perhaps just too distant and so the “British Hero” is always a flawed hero. Therefore, it seems that a British Hero is neither perfect, nor always wise in their decisions, nor always victorious. However, their flawed character is precisely what makes them a British hero, and they are loved for it.
Henry V- an imperfect British hero?
Ned Tidmarsh
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker