We search for role models everywhere, but particularly from people we have connections with--family, friends, celebrities, and so on. Another source is from stories we experience, be they movies or books or oral tellings. In the ancient past, stories were the main method used to pass along models of behavior. There's a word describing the role models in these tales--we call them "paragons," because they idealize the virtues expressed. These still remain in modern stories, though they are far less perfect and bear obvious faults.
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| King Arthur in Disney's "The Sword in the Stone" |
Why bother with role models? Why celebrate certain qualities? It's the same reason we give medals to brave soldiers, or accolades to incredible deeds of heroism, or Nobel awards to scientists who create lifesaving vaccines. Role models demonstrate the qualities we most want to possess. It's only natural to feature them in widespread stories. Of course, the trouble is how to make paragons sympathetic, as well as threatened, since their very nature is to be superhuman?
I believe the modern incarnation of role models being deeply flawed is swinging the pendulum too far. Sure, it's hard to accept a perfect human, but it's also just as implausible that everyone is a slimeball. What we need are examples to follow, human enough to believe, yet above the reach of most. Paragons give us hope, show us that we can be better, and even inside stories they still inspire. In the end, that's the biggest part ... examples to follow.
- M
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