The Hero is Mourned
32″ x 42″ oil/canvas
How, I asked, do we discern the true hero from the villain. How to paint the fine dividing line. Both are raised up for acclamation and reverence. Eric Hoffer wrote The True Believer, a book about personhood; the search for identity and a meaningful life. Self-definition, Hoffer posits, comes through attaching ourselves to groups or charismatic leaders whose beliefs inspire us and give us a sense of purpose. How do societies teach discernment, a critical tool for guiding personal choices.