It’s usually the one out of the million persons who intends to be a hero and solving all the troubles people face. So maybe a lot of people want to be a hero but how many actually become one or can actually do it? What makes a hero aside from his actions are the desires and intentions he has for people. A hero has to have superior intentions and stand by their words. Heroes must also not judge people for who they are and they must always guide people towards the right path, and performs an act of good deeds. Most importantly a hero must be filled with courage and mental strength. The heroic character Rustam from the story of Shah-nama written by Firdawsi, but translated by Arthur and Edmund Warner implemented love in an ironic way, but in a heroic manner. Rustam “(Has) lost today all strength and courage. Fight not with the Turan: I have done enough harm”( Firdawsi, 97 ).
The integrity Rustam had was extremely admiring, however he has been eternally scarred by killing his son he prematurely met. Rustam’s intentions were to not fight anymore because he now knows how it feels to lose someone, and he has killed so many sons, fathers, and uncles but he actually feels their pain now after this tragedy. Rustam was very deplorable, and knew he lost what he never got a chance to hold onto. Gilgamesh from the story of The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by N. K. Sandars, shows the mentality of a hero in depth. Gilgamesh’s intentions were to protect his people, “Not yet will my people be desolate” ( Sandars, 16 ), meaning his people will not be deserted, they will be safe and it will be my duty to provide the safety.
The heroic mentality he had ensured him to be a good king followed by a hero. Rustam’s courageousness and confidence implies that he is the best and undefeated, “(He) is not to be gulled, attempt it not… I have known ups and downs and am not one to practice guile upon” ( Firdawsi, 91 ). Rustam shows that he won’t be defeated and tricked, no one should even dare to think about it. As a hero Rustam has that qualification and mentality. Gilgamesh self encourages and motivates himself by convincing himself “If your heart is fearful throw away fear, if there is terror in it throw away terror” ( Sandars, 17 ). Gilgamesh builds his own strong morals and then confronts what he has to go against by pushing away the fear and terror that exists. The mutual mentality for both Rustam and Gilgamesh was to eliminate anything that comes through their way. Rustam performed an act of good deeds by listening to his son when Suhrab said “Use all thine influence that the Shah may not attack them” ( Firdawsi, 96 ). Once Suhrab advised his father, the hero Rustam that, respectively he listened and obeyed his son. At this point Rustam did not let his ego get in between the war and his son, so he listened, as a hero would. Gilgamesh’s greed declined throughout the story, especially when he found a plant that made you younger, he was going to “Give it to the old men to eat… I shall eat it myself (as well). ( Sandars, 27). Performing good deeds is a great quality to have as a honorable hero. Rustam had a very strong word, and if he said he was going to do something he was surely going to do it. As when he was going to fight Suhrab, his son, “For he will come to fight me tomorrow, and thou shalt see a yoke upon his neck” ( Firdawsi, 92 ).
Of course towards the end he does kill Suhrab, but the devastating part is that he finds out a fact that changes his entire life, and even changes the person he was. Gilgamesh was by his word aggressively, when he said he was going to slaughter Humbaba he did. It’s debatable to say Humbaba wasn’t an enemy, but the point is what Gilgamesh said he was going to do is what he did. “But we shall go forward and fix our eyes on this monster” ( Sandars, 17 ). He has his eyes set on the prize, and it won’t be changed until he gets what he wants done. Successfully it was accomplished.