2021年英语四级美文赏析：No More Heroes?思维导图

Manyarticleshaveappearedinrecentyears,claimingthattherearenomoreheroesintheWesternworld.Theauthorssaythat,particularlyinEuropeandNorthAmerica,theyoungnowrefusetoadmireanyone;thatwearelivinginaworldtoowellinformed,toocuriousandcriticalforheroworship.Thepress,books,andtelevisionkeepshowingusthefaultsofthepublicfigureswhocouldbecometoday’sstars,untilwelosefaithandstartlookingfordefectsinanypersonwhoseemsworthyofrespect.

Inaneighbororastatesman,wetrytodiscovertheweaknesses,failures,oruglymotivesthataresurelyhidingbehindhisnoblestactions.Isittruethatweknowtoomuch?Wereourancestorsluckytobeonlypartlyinformed?ThosewhoreadthefirstbiographiesofCharlemagne,GeorgeWashington,JoanofArc,orothergreatmenandwomenofthepastwerenottoldthattheirherohadbadbreathordislikedhismother;theyonlyfoundadescriptionofhisgreataccomplishmentsandtheiradmirationwasstrengthened.

Infact,earlybiographersdidn’thesitatetomakeupanadmirablestoryortwoabouttheirhero.ThemanwhowrotethefirstbiographyofWashington,forinstance,inventedthecherrytree;headmittedlaterthattherewasnotruthinit,buthesaidthatitwasincharacterandthatitwouldgiveyoungmenagoodexampletofollow.Hisreadersdidn’tseemtoobject;thebookwasreprintedeightytimes—atremendoussuccessinthosedays.Modernbiographersdonotinventsuchstories,theyrespectthefacts,asindeedtheyshould.

Butwepayapricefortheirtruthfulness,forintheireffortstoshow“thewholeperson,”theytellusmorethanwereallyneedtoknowaboutprivatelives,familysecrets,andhumanweaknesses.Thetruegreatnessofafinemanisoftenforgotteninthedisplay;andpeoplelosenotonlytheiradmirationforhim,buttheirwillingnesstotrustanyother“star”completely.