Schindlers List - what makes a hero // memorial day

In honor of memorial day, I'd like to not only thank those who have fought to protect our country, but those who go unrecognized as heroes every day. We often forget how privileged we are to live in a country with rights and freedoms that other nations do not, and even though at one point our founding fathers were indeed terrorists they found a nation built on independence and freedom, which I believe is something worth fighting for.  So thank you, because every once in a while, everyone needs a helping hand. 

The following is an analysis on the characteristics that make up a true hero, specifically in Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally (another book I highly recommend). While the following is a pretty straightforward essay I believe there is something sad about turning in a paper and then letting it sit on your computers hard drive until it eventually becomes deleted years later in order to free up space for god knows what; therefore, I am sharing them with you. If you like them, and wish for me to share more essays, leave a comment below, if not, leave a comment below as well. Feedback is always welcome. Enjoy. 

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When we think of a hero, the names that most frequently come to mind are those in colorful outfits with nonhuman superpowers. Yet we often forget that a hero is not determined by whether or not one looks good wearing their underwear on the outside, but rather if they exhibit specific personality traits that actually make them heroic. While heroism is often overlooked in everyday people, real life hero do exist. Heroism is defined as being brave, selfless, and caring; and it is these traits that make Oskar Schindler, in Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally, a hero. 

Throughout Schindler's List Oskar exhibits extraordinary amounts of bravery and courage by defying the Natzi Party, and helping Jews. Being that the SS believes that “whoever helps a Jew helps Satan” (Keneally 97) and is therefore as bad as a Jew, Oskar constantly puts himself in danger by helping the Jews. By creating the “Schindler list,” (Keneally 280) which is filled with the names of those who Oskar intends to save, and establishing a “heaven” (Keneally 72) of a factory that “does not [actually] manufacture” (Keneally 342) Schindler faces the possibility of execution if anyone were to find out about his crimes. This action in the face of sever danger characterizes Oskar as someone who is courageous, and therefore exhibiting heroic tendencies. 

In order to be heroic, one must also be selfless and make personal sacrifices for the betterment of others. While at one point Oskar went “to Cracow to get rich” by the end of the book he “had no manufacturing ambitions left” (Keneally 304) and his main goal was to help the Jewish people despite how that would affect himself and his livelihood. While Schindler estimates that he spent over 18,000 US dollars a week for his labor in Brinnlitz, his fortune wasn't his only sacrifice. By moving his enamelware factory to Brinnlitz Oskar had to break up with his beautiful girlfriend Klonowska due to it being a long distance relationship and him moving in with his wife. This sacrifice along with the possibility of him becoming extremely wealthy if he were to stay in Cracow shows Oskars selfless nature and his heroism. 

The most important aspect of a hero that Oskar exhibits is how he truly cares for the well being of his laborers. Oskar was known to have been a “humane” (Keneally 73) “direktor” (Keneally 172) who was interested in the “permanence of his labor force” (Keneally 242) rather than how much money he could make, or how many lives he could ruin with one sweep of his rifle. Rather than abusing his laborers, he gave them the “intoxicating freedom” of being able to work at “half-pace and still survive” (Keneally 311). This kindness furthered the laborers view of Schindler as their “father”, “mother” and “only faith” promising to “never let [them] down” (Keneally 330). Through being kind to those who worked for him, and refraining from taking advantage of them, Schindler exhibited the most essential characteristic of of being a hero, compassion. 

While Batman and Robin make for a wonderful comic series, they aren't real life, and they miss out of the essential characteristics of what a hero really is. A hero is one who acts in the face of danger, who makes personal sacrifices for others, and who truly cares about those that they help. Oskar Schindler exhibits all of these characteristics through Schindler’s List and is therefore a hero.