Nellie Bly

Pop stars, politicians, and players. Society has discretely titled these celebrities as heroes. Because people who spend their life living in their own luxuries instead of helping society definitely makes them heroes. Obviously, they're not. So why do we treat them like one? In Charles Harper’s essay “How We Choose Our Heroes” he believes we turn to these celebrities because we are ‘hero hungry people’ but we do not know who to turn to when seeking a hero (Harper). A celebrity ages throughout interest quickly. We see them once, we like them, then we get bored of them. But a real hero is timeless. Their actions and courage are so grand, that it is able to make an impact years after or even beyond death. I believe a true and valuable hero is someone who is willing to take charge and is willing to follow through with his or her actions, no matter the cost. It does not matter if they’re running into a burning building or making a peaceful protest, a hero finds ways to make a difference in this world. Heroes perform courageous acts whether it is to prove their determination or simply because they believe it is the right thing to do. Even if the task is life-threatening, a true hero is willing to risk their lives for another, whether it’s one person or a whole country. A hero’s courage and determination allows them to persist and persevere even through the most challenging adversities.

Portrait of Nellie BlyWikimedia CommonsA little girl with hazelnut locks and sapphire eyes stood out in the crowd of thousands of brown and beige clothing with her bright pink dress and internal determination. This tiny but mighty girl soon grew up to be a hardworking young woman named Nellie Bly. Born on May 5, 1864, in Cochran Mills, Pennsylvania, her mother recognized Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman as a natural born standout. Her father saw her as an intelligent child and taught her the majority of her education. However, when he died, her family was in dire need of financial aid, and Seaman worked hard to overcome this adversity. She pushed herself by working extra jobs until she was financially stable for herself and her family. In 1885, her spunky little attitude had grown into a strong activist persona after Seaman read a discriminating article towards women called “What Girls Are Good For”. In this article, the journalist said women are only meant to birth babies and tidy the household (Popova). After the journalism company Pittsburgh Dispatch discovered her fiery article and personality, her journalism career launched. It was common for women to have undercover names, and she soon went as Nellie Bly. In the next few years, Bly traveled around the world in record time, educated many, and wrote entertaining articles. A true hero such as Nellie Bly possesses the traits of courage and determination. Courageous heroes stays true to their beliefs and fights against the immoralities in the world. Their determination proves they will never back down. Heroes are determined to prove to not only themselves but also everyone else who doubted them, wrong. Rejection or hate do not discourage them, instead, it encourages them to work harder. Nellie Bly is an awe-inspiring hero because even when faced with rejection and adversity, she influenced women power and a strong work ethic through her courageous spirit and determination.

Nellie Bly proved a woman’s strength by her courageous spirit to voice her opinion. Bly’s journalism company World wanted to put the novel, “Around the World in Eighty Days” to the test because they wanted to see if they could beat the fictional record of traveling earth below eighty days. Bly was eager to step up to the challenge, however, World opposed believing women would be too fussy and incapable of handling with serious news topics. Bly was both shocked and offended by this statement.

Nellie Bly's send off to travel the worldSmithsonian‘Start the man and I’ll start the same day for some other paper and beat him.’... In the next few days, she would speed across the continent, regaled at every station she passed with crowds, cheers, and gifts-- specially at her erstwhile home of Pittsburgh. At last, Nellie pulled into the train station at Jersey City on January 25, 1890, at 3:51 P.M., clocking in at 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds-- a world record. (Spencer)

When Bly stated that she could beat a man, it shows her confidence in her abilities. Her quick time to travel around the world of seventy-two days proved that she was determined to go out and beat anyone who came in her way. She not only beat the record, but also proved it by over a week, proving nonbelievers wrong. She proved her point that women were just as strong as men. The cheers and gifts from the crowd showed that it wasn’t just Bly who believed in herself, but hundreds of other people believed in her as well. A courageous person showcasing heroism follows their heart even when it’s put to the test. Bly’s actions convinced people that women weren’t made for only cooking and gardening. Bly not only expressed herself physically, but she also expressed herself verbally. When Bly was in New York, she wanted to do more stunt journalism tasks, such as government issues or medication hazards, however, her editors did not agree for her to do such manly tasks.

She expressed interest in writing a story on the immigrant experience in the United States. Although the editor declined her story, he challenged Bly to investigate one of New York’s most notorious mental hospitals. Bly not only accepted the challenge, she decided to feign mental illness to gain admission and expose how patients were treated. With this courageous and bold act, Bly cemented her legacy as one of the foremost female journalists in history. (Norwood)

Her editors may not have agreed at first with the stories she wanted to write, but Bly wasn’t afraid of her editors or these treacherous tasks. She took it upon herself to disclose the wrongdoings happening around her through the dangerous jobs she committed herself to. It already took great courage to go into an insane asylum not knowing what the outcome could be. Her success in not only getting into the asylum but also being able to tell the truth of what goes on in there proved her point that women can be successful. Bly proved that women could do more than just write for the society pages in newspapers. She was living proof women could do just as well in daring investigative pieces that only men did. A hero takes risks with or without fear. Bly continuously took risks time and time again, such as faking an illness and going into a situation with little chance of escape. She sacrificed herself so she could expose those cruel people who constantly took advantage of the weak. Not only did she stand up for the common people, but she stood up for herself as well. Bly stuck up for herself no matter the cost, and that brings a spark as to why she was so determined. 

Nellie Bly was constantly determined to discover new ways to overcome obstacles and make an impact on society through her writing. After leaving Pittsburgh, she ventured into New York to pursue her dreams as a full-time journalist. She discovered that since she was a female, it would be much harder to succeed.

Seeking a job as a serious journalist, not just a society columnist, Bly moved to New York City in 1887. There she sold some of her stories about Mexico to newspapers, but found that no one wanted to hire a female as a reporter. Resourceful as ever, Bly managed to turn this experience itself into a story that she sold to her former employers in Pittsburgh. Finally, she managed to arrange an interview with the managing editor of the New York World, John Cockerill. (“Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman”)

Bly sold her stories, but even after getting rejected from multiple companies, she was ‘resourceful’ and found other solutions to get her interview. Instead of giving up, Bly thought outside of the box to achieve her dreams of being a journalist in New York. She was never satisfied with mediocre, and although she was rejected time and time again, it did not stop her. She found other ways to achieve her goals. Like all heroes, Bly had a strong mindset and was dedicated to her dreams. A hero never gives up when facing adversity because they have the right mindset of persisting until something great happens. Bly may have been shunned by editors, but she trudged through it until she finally achieved her goal. When Bly arrived in New York, she believed she would get a job quickly because of her previous job working at Pittsburgh Dispatch. Despite her success at her past journalism company, she was greeted with disclosure when she arrived in New York.

She landed in Manhattan, age 23, naively assuming her Dispatch portfolio would quickly land her a job-- specifically, at the biggest, most respected paper of the day, the New York World, owned by Joseph Pulitzer. She couldn’t even get past the guards. To survive, she hatched an end-run strategy. Presenting her Dispatch credentials, she managed to interview every major newspaper editor for an article asking, “Can a woman make it in journalism in New York?” Their answer: A resounding no. She’d have to find a way to change their minds. (Spencer)

Nellie Bly's article about the insane asylumUndercover ReportingBly was called naive for assuming her position, and to some, being naive can be perceived as a negative. Being naive can be seen as a person with a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement. However, her carefree actions came from her confidence because of her strong resume from when she was working for Dispatch. Bly came to New York confidently, because she believed her skills and work ethic were strong and impactful. Bly believed she could make it as a journalist even after hearing with her own ears that women can’t succeed, and she was determined to prove them wrong. Like a hero, Bly didn’t let this rejection discourage her. It helped her grow as an individual, where she then helped other individuals grow as well by showing them a role model to follow. Bly’s determination towards succeeding and accomplishing her goals led her to a courageous and domineering spirit towards success. As a woman, she proved that females can also go out into the world and accomplish the goals they desire.

    A true deserving hero will always step up to the challenge and overcome adversity no matter the problem. Bly’s courage and strive towards greatness influences others to fight for what they believe in. Bly once said,

"Here would be a good field for believers in women’s rights. Let them forego their lecturing and writing and go to work; more work and less talk. Take some girls that have the ability, procure for them situations, start them on their way, and by so doing accomplish more than by years of talking. Instead of gathering up the “real smart young men” gather up the real smart girls, pull them out of the mire, give them a shove up the ladder of life, and be amply repaid both by their success and unforgetfulness of those that held out the helping hand". (qtd. in Popova)

By encouraging women to go into other fields and believing they’d succeed shows her determination towards equality and women empowerment. Bly portrays a true activist towards women power. She wrote her mind, never backed down from a fight, and motivated many to follow their goals. And that’s what true courage is. To keep fighting even when you know you’ll lose, but you keep fighting anyways until you somehow prove yourself and everyone else wrong. As a female myself, I learned from Bly that it’s okay to do something different, be something different, or wear something different. She faced life with little to no fear, and honestly, as of right now, I’m nowhere near that. Bly took risks and faced danger, but not for herself. She did it for other people. She didn’t care about the fame or the money, Bly only wanted to accomplish her dreams and educate society on the mishaps it’s made. I hope to be someone who is willing to put my life behind someone else’s. Someone like Bly encourages me to embrace my uniqueness and to live without fear. I need to stop worrying about today, tomorrow, and the next. To the common eye, I seem like a shy person, but I’ve learned to embrace myself through fashion. When I can’t find the right words, I use clothes to express myself. Bly was seen as different because she wanted to be a journalist, and I come off to be different because of the clothes I wear. Sometimes I get judged or questioned by the outfits I wear, but Bly taught me that I shouldn’t care what others think of me, I should only care about what I think of myself. And maybe, just maybe, these outgoing clothes will soon transfer internally as well. Journalism made Bly happy just as how expressing myself through intricate clothes makes me happy. Instead of trying to blend in and cover myself behind everyone else, I learned to be my true self and staying true to my beliefs and morals. Sure celebrities are cool and all with their Bugattis and fancy mansions, but what difference does it make if they don’t use their fortune for good actions that help those around them. Is it really worth the title if they’re selfish? Arrogant? It doesn’t matter if a hero is poor or they come from a humble family, a courageous heart is worth more value than the stack of gold on your wrist. Just like a worthy hero is timeless, the actions they pursue are priceless.  

Bradner, Liesl. "Trouble Maker: Journalism took reporter Nellie Bly undercover and around the world in 72 days." American History, Feb. 2018, p. 42+. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A515974806/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=a5adc7c4. Accessed 3 Apr. 2019.

"Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, Gale, 1998. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1631005934/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC &xid=81 ace4b6. Accessed 1 Apr. 2019.

“How Should We Choose Our Heroes?” The MY HERO Project, myhero.com/harper-how-should-we-choose-our-heroes.

Norwood, Arlisha. "Nellie Bly." National Women's History Museum. National Women's History Museum, 2017. Date accessed 4 May 2019

Popova, Maria. “What Girls Are Good For: 20-Year-Old Nellie Bly's 1885 Response to a Patronizing Chauvinist.” Brain Pickings, 5 May 2018, www.brainpickings.org/2014/04/30/nellie-bly-letter/.

Spencer, Miranda. “No One Said No to Nellie.” Biography, vol. 2, no. 4, Apr. 1998, p. 60. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=402697&site=brc-live.