For thousands of years, audiences have been enamored with stories of heroes going on quests to save the world. From Robin Hood to Luke Skywalker to Wonder Woman, the trope’s variations are endless. But recently a new trend has taken over fiction and film. The traditional hero has been replaced with a more relatable “hero” who’s afflicted with as many flaws and vices as he is virtues (sometimes more). Instead of Saint George slaying the dragon, we encounter characters like the Punisher, a tortured man who murders bad guys in the name of justice.

 

While these stories are more realistic and have their place on the shelf, that isn’t an excuse to outmode traditional heroes. Joseph Campbell’s A Hero with a Thousand Faces meticulously analyzes the archetype of the hero within mythological history, breaking down the basic narrative structure of “The Hero’s Adventure.” No matter who you are or where or when you were raised, this traditional hero is written in your cultural DNA. In your efforts to craft original, compelling, and perhaps more “true-to-life” characters, you may be tempted to stray away from the iconic figure who’s been appearing in the starring role for generations. But I have three reasons for believing that readers still resonate with stories about morally strong men and women who fight against evil.

 

1. Heroes Give Us Ideals to Strive for

The book of Romans tells us that “all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Humans are broken and prone to buckle under temptation—which may seem to invalidate traditional heroes. But stories that focus too much on the darkness within the human heart neglect the innate nobility and inherent value each of us possess as beings made in God’s image.

 

Heroes serve as an example of what we all were meant to be—and can still become. God designed human beings for good deeds and welcomes us as participants in His plans. When we’re united with Christ, we become new creations even while we continue to wrestle with our flesh on this earth. A hero is a type of redeemed man, whether he has already reached that milestone at the beginning of his journey or is mere steps away from it.

 

King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table embody honor, and as we’re entertained by their exploits, we see human beings allowing righteous standards to direct their lives. King Arthur’s quest for the Holy Grail (the legendary cup that Christ drank from at the Last Supper and that caught His blood as He hung on the cross) reveals that the highest goal is the pursuit of God.

 

Readers need stories with valiant heroes who may at first fail but ultimately succeed at overcoming their weaknesses. Stories like these feed our souls and stir us toward growth. Though distorted and imperfect, we’re still image-bearers of Almighty God, and our stories must portray that, thus reminding ourselves of who we are.

 

2. Heroes Reassure Us That the World Can Be Saved

When Adam and Eve rejected fellowship with God, they brought a curse on themselves and the world—for we cannot have life apart from the true source of it. Since then, humans have messed up themselves and everything they touch. And yet, even in that dire situation, God promised that a redeemer would one day heal the sick and dying world. Writers who fixate on the reality of our hellish circumstances risk stripping hope out of the picture.

 

A hero who makes monumental sacrifices to reverse oncoming destruction highlights the truth that, not only can the world be saved, it should be saved. A society as tainted as ours may seem irreconcilable at times. But despair isn’t God’s answer—with Him all things are possible.

 

Even in darkness, God’s light shines through. Lucy Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia leads the war against the White Witch, not with weapons but with her faith in Aslan. She encourages others to trust him too, which results in Narnia’s eventual liberation from the wintry curse.

 

The world is worth saving because, although it has lost its wholeness, it still contains beauty. The hero who lays down his life for his city, his family, his world inspires the same spirit of selflessness and hope in us.

 

3. Heroes Are Reflections of Christ

Slain gods and heroes who rise again litter history and mythology. Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection wasn’t beyond comprehension, because characters like Balder, Osiris, Adonis, and Tammuz had already depicted that miracle. Lewis and Tolkien both described Christ as “the myth that came true.” They believed that God used stories and mythology to prepare men’s hearts for Christ’s incarnation.

 

Aragorn from Lord of the Rings is the Hero-King who claims his rightful throne. Not only is he a warrior but also a healer, tending his wounded people in Gondor during the battle against Mordor. His victory and kingship are hard-earned through obscurity, ridicule, and suffering. But he holds fast to his purpose and calling.

 

Ultimately, the traditional hero points to the True Hero, Jesus Christ. While the mythology of the past primed the ancients to receive Christ, the traditional heroes after His ascension reacquaint us with who He is and keep His triumphant return in our minds and hearts. Every story with a traditional hero proclaims Christ the King whether readers are aware of it or not.

 

Heroes Teach Us to Hope

Readers do need stories that deal with human depravity, but they also need stories that offer solace. Don’t be afraid of your hero or heroine seeming “too traditional.” Heroes bathe our hearts in the goodness, truth, and beauty we desperately crave. If your story needs a hero, you can be confident that he’s joining the ranks of thousands of others who usher us toward grace and salvation. After all, we’re commanded to “hope in Christ,” and heroes help show us how.