Matthew Walsh, a Literary Hero

A hero is someone who is honest, trustworthy, brave and who has the courage to attempt anything, and willing to go through anything to help others. A person you can look up to.

I believe it is important to have a hero. A hero is someone you can aspire to be. I think that to have someone to admire will help you through life, especially as a child. If you don't have a hero, you don't have anyone to be like, or to try to live their life like they did.

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin (http://www.nancywerlin.com/rules.htm)

Matt Walsh, the main character in "The Rules of Survival", is a hero. He ultimately risks his own well being to stay with his younger sisters, Emmy and Callie. “The human instinct for self-preservation is strong. I know, because mine pulls at me, too, like a needle on a compass” (Werlin 73). Matt wants to leave his abusive mother, Nikki, but he won't leave his younger sisters. He doesn’t just look out for his sisters he looks out for Murdoch, Nikki’s ex-boyfriend. “Murdoch didn’t do it, and I couldn’t sit by and let him get in trouble just because you wanted it that way” (Werlin 150). Matt yelled this at Nikki, proving that he didn’t care if she took her anger out on him, as long as Murdoch was okay. He also decided to stay with his Aunt Bobbie, a floor below Nikki “I really didn’t like the idea of Bobbie there alone” ( Werlin 204).

Matt and his sisters were abused by their mother since they were born. Matt, being only thirteen at the time, took the liberty to take care of his sisters. He tried many different ways to find out how to get Callie, Emmy and himself away from Nikki, their mother. He was risking his own life, threatened by Nikki, to save his sisters. He even went out of his way to save Murdoch from Nikki’s torture. When Callie and Emmy were in safer hands he stayed with Aunt Bobbie to make sure she wouldn’t be near Nikki alone. He risked his life for many people.

Heroes of September 11th, 2011 (http://lesterslegends.com/911-remember-the-heroes/)

Interview...
Is it important to have someone to look up to? Yes, to learn from them.
Do you want to be a role model in someone else’s eyes? Yes, I would like to be remembered like that.
Are some heroes out there not really heroes? No, everyone has their own definition of “hero”, so a hero that may not be mine could be my next door neighbors hero.
Do “ superheroes” resemble everyday heroes? Not necessarily, no one can fly per say, but they are brave and courageous.
Do you think everyone has the potential to become a hero? Yes, they just have to try.
Can you have more than one hero? Yes, there are many in the world.
What is your definition of a hero? Someone willing to risk their life for something important, even if it’s a complete stranger.
What are the ideal characteristics of a hero? Bravery, courage, will-power.
Who is you hero? Heroes of September 11th.
Why? They all risked their lives to save people they didn’t even know.