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Justin Hammer Mr. Carlton Honors english 10 12-18-21 Superman vs. Achilles Contemporary heroes are often compared to heroes of classic literature and mythology. An example of these comparisons is that of Superman and Achilles. They share many commonalities with each other. Both of these characters were not born with their super powers but rather gained them from and outside source, they both have their own specific weakness, and they each of them have tremendous pride and determination. First off, both of these classic heroes have amazing strength and abilities that surpass that of a normal man. However, their powers didn't come from birth into life. They, in fact, came from a source outside their own doing. Achilles was dipped in the river Styx by his mother when he was born. This gave him his so called "invincibility". This is also what allows him to dominate the battlefield during the Trojan War. As for Superman, his gift of super strength and other abilities was given to him by the sheer fact that the planet he was born on had such a dense atmospheric structure that he was much stronger than typical humans. Another influence that his planet, Krypton, had on his powers was fact that his planet's people were significantly more evolved than that of "Earth-dwellers". Though these two prototypical heroes of literature and media had extraordinary powers, they also had one vital and key flaw, their one weakness. These two heroes had a specific weakness caused by the very source from which their powers were derived. Because of the fact that Achilles was dipped in the river by his mother for his strength, she forgot to put his entire body into the river. He was fully submerged aside from his heel, his only vulnerable spot on his body. This was the cause of his eventual demise in battle, he was shot by a poisoned arrow in the very heel, resulting in the death of a great hero. Superman's weakness, on the other hand, was a cause of the very planet he was born on. A mineral that came from his planet called Kryptonite was turned radioactive after his home planet was destroyed. This made Superman fatally vulnerable to it. All the strength they could ever muster up couldn't protect them from their one fatal weakness. Both of these signature flaws have been adapted to modern times. Kryptonite is often referred to as a task or flaw that someone has or had difficulty overcoming, and the tendon above the heel is called the Achilles Tendon in reference to Achilles's "kryptonite". Lastly, Achilles and Superman show an incredible amount of pride and determination. These two marvels of power and strength fight valiantly for their country in great battles. Achilles battling fighting with the Greeks against the Trojans during the Trojan War, and Superman fighting for the United States, in a sense, against the criminals of metropolis. Superman truly represents the beliefs and ideals of the "American way". Achilles fights proudly for Greece against those that oppressed his country and against the man that had slain his very cousin. They are both very determined to prevail against their foes, Achilles against the Trojans and Superman against crime and evil doers. In conclusion, the heroes of both modern and classic literature are very similar. The modern heroes represent an "updated" version of the morals and values of the classic Greek heroes. They represent the very values of their country and people. They tell a story that captivates a reader and gives people a representation of what a true hero is. These two specific examples give an idea of pride, truth, and justice both on the battlefield and in the streets of the city.