Immortality Through Change

A world with no permanence is defined by change. Think about it: throughout our history the human race has tried to change the world, be it for the benefit of the self or the species. We have changed every aspect of our lives, from sustenance (agriculture, irrigation, more efficient equipment, genetic engineering) to shelter (caves, huts, basic houses, modern houses) to health (the development of medicine) to transport (horses, steam engines, cars, airplanes) to science (everything). As a species the human race doesn't like to rest on its laurels, every breakthrough lays the groundwork for further advancement. The human race has changed the world we live in more than any natural force, and the rate of development is still increasing. The result of all this advancement is that the world changes greatly from generation to generation: technology changes, cultures change, languages change, people change. The result of this is that the world is forever in a state of flux and few things are constant for very long. However, we have learned to accept impermanence as a part of life because we can adapt to any change, no matter how revolutionary. Our cultural environment may evolve constantly, but so do we, and so we are able to live in a fleeting world.

However, even in an endlessly evolving world there are always a few fixed points to guide us. There are some things that never change -- ideals, the appreciation of companionship, and religion are some of the most prominent. By bracing ourselves against these concepts we can weather any change around us, for they embody those things in life that mean the most. As long as they remain, humans can survive any upheaval, all we need are a few definite fixtures in our lives and we can handle anything the world may throw at us. When we work to uphold ideals or practice religion, their perpetuation through the ages gives us a sense of immortality ourselves -- we feel that we are part of something bigger than our fleeting existences, something that will live on long after we are gone. In this way they give our lives meaning. Also, the ideals or religions themselves give us new ways of looking at the world, helping us to make sense of its overwhelming complexity by giving us a few core beliefs to focus on. However, for many the greatest goal in life is to make a difference in the world.

Humans want to be involved with both change and permanence in order to have a place in history forever. We want to be the ones to change the world so that people will remember our names. Gilgamesh's most fervent desire was to be remembered for his deeds, and he is not alone. Everyone wants to be remembered, one of our greatest goals in life is to ensure this. If we are remembered than we will live forever because our names will not be lost. This is the motivation behind many people's success in science, literature, politics, and countless other areas: everyone wants to have a place in the collective human consciousness; this is the true way to immortality. There is no permanence, but there are memories, be they in our minds or in books. Through our involvements in change or in great achievements, we can be remembered forever. In this way Gilgamesh really did achieve immortality.

Heroism

The idea of a hero is one that recurs in almost every story, be it a book, a movie, or even a painting or song. It is human nature to look up to heroes, they give as ideals to aspire to and, when they are used to represent the struggles of the common people, they give us someone to identify with. They are both role models and comerades in our own trials.

The protagonists in stories like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Odyssey, The Lord of the Rings, and other such tales are all individuals who are either going above and beyond the call of duty or are thrust into a difficult situation and make the most of it, often eventually mastering it. They don't always succeed, but they always try their hardest. The fact that a character doesn't have to win in order to be considered a hero is interesting. Many don't succeed in their endeavors, but still are considered heroes as long as they give it their all and don't give up. Also, a character doesn't have to save the universe in order to gain heroic status. Any small victory (or wholehearted try) is enough. That is the most important aspect of a hero -- that they try their hardest for an important cause. That is enough to make us look up to them.

Why shouldn't a woman be a heroine? Why does there need to be a distinction between the sexes? The reason none of the listed books and movies have female protagonists (though they do have heroic female characters) is that audiences are more likely to accept a male hero, especially in adventure stories such as these. There are many wonderful heroines out there, but they generally tend to be less well-known than men.

Humans need heroes because we always need someone to look up to. It says something positive for our nature that no matter how far we come we can always aspire to be greater and feel that we can always better ourselves. Without heroes to model ourselves on, we might find this more difficult. We need them to help us become greater.

I think what Brecht meant was that it is harder for us to better ourselves if we don't have role models to provide us with direction. I think he would be more impressed if we could motivate ourselves with no help from others. However, humans learn by example, and heroes provide us with the guidance we need to better ourselves.