Hero is a common word in our society. It seems like we are always able to read the latest news and find the latest local man who saved that beautiful kitten from that burning building. When we say hero, a wide range of different definitions come to mind for people. Our definition of a hero in our world is definitely not a constant. In the Epic of Gilgamesh and the novel The Monkey many would consider the main characters and their stronger companions not close to heroes but rather tyrants. I have to say that these people have defined the hero too narrowly and I have to show them their folly. Monkey and Gilgamesh, despite the many sins they commit, highlight what it truly means to be a hero, reminding us to always aspire to greatness. When asking people what characteristics they think of when they think of a hero, the most common answers would be doing good deeds and not allowing evil to thrive. This is what we were led to believe. One of the first images that come to mind when the word hero is mentioned is a superhero. An image of Batman or Superman is likely, someone who is good-natured and conquers evil as he appears. Doing only good deeds or not committing evil sins is not enough. First you should distinguish the difference between a bad action and a good one. The line between good and evil is so thin that specific attributes and certain actions are constantly swapped back and forth. We cannot decide as a society what is good and what is bad. A modern example would be when the United States made the decision to bomb Japan during World War II. For the Americans, celebration followed as it was thought to be a defining moment of victory. Those involved in... middle of paper... king personally aspire to be great. Gilgamesh is a hero for his incredible deeds and the adoration he received from his people. Enkidu may not be the hero that Gilgamesh is, but he can be considered a true hero on his own. The Monkey was able to accomplish incredible feats in his many lives. Tripitaka, although not as much of a hero as Monkey, was invaluable to the success of the journey and was richly rewarded for it. Becoming a hero is not an easy task. There is a reason why these characters are so famous from these literary classics. They have reached the sky in their achievements and have had many successes along the way. It's not easy to become a hero, but if you do, you will live forever in the hearts and minds of future generations, as well as be remembered. Therefore, Gilgamesh gained the immortality he had always sought.