Why People Act Bravery

I believe that the reason that people act heroically is due to empathy and compassion people feel for others. People who rush to help others during dangerous situations do so, because they care about the safety and well-being of other people.

For the past few weeks, we have been reading stories about heroic people real and fictional. Both, real and fictional, have acted this way to either protect themselves or others. For example, in The Story of Ida B. Wells, it tells us how she became known for writing about unfair treatment, hostility colored people faced, and injustice. These articles and her speeches influenced people to the point of where they took action.” Her speeches raised the consciousness of the nation. Condemnation from the North as well as England forced Southerners first to justify lynching, then publicly to deplore it. Between 1893 and 1898, several Southern states passed anti-lynching laws.”

Another example of heroic people took place in the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. This is a fictional story, but it features two types of heroic people. Theseus was one of these heroic people, he was a son of a king, but he wanted to help his people.” We cannot sacrifice any more of our young citizens to this tyrant. When it is time to send the next tribute, I will go as one of them and I vow that it is the last time the Minotaur will be fed with the flesh of any of our people.” He killed the minotaur, but he had help. The tyrant's daughter gave him a way to find his way out of the labyrinth. He did not repay her well.” The moment she was gone, he set sail and left her on the island.” He left her, but the gods didn’t like this.” The Gods clearly thought the same thing, for they had a further horror in store for him, as a punishment for his ungrateful treatment of the young girl.” Later his father killed himself, because Theseus forgot to put up his sails.

All of the stories we read featured these heroic figures. They had a lot of the same qualities like bravery, strength, and nobility. Woman who Helped Anne Frank Dies at 100, taught us that modesty is also important.” Gies explained another motivation for emphasizing her modesty. She said if people can think it takes remarkable qualities to act boldly on behalf of others, few will attempt it.” This means anyone can be a hero.

In conclusion, we all can act heroically you just have to be able to feel compassion and empathy for the people around you. 

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