A hero ain't nothing but a sandwich

[LARSSON at vax1.mankato.msus.edu]

L. apologizes:
"        Another respondent felt that I was careless in referring to
TP as "our hero" on the grounds that he is after all a mortal and needs
to be judged as one. I agree with this criticism. I guess I could
claim I was speaking facetiously, but more accurately it was again a
case of careless word usage. To paraphrase someone (Brecht?) we don't
need heroes and heaven help us if we do."

Well, "hero" is a word that is often used loosely.  It conventionally denotes
one who is worthy of admiration--and that usage is slung around enough by
those who admire his writing and his overdetermined non-celebrity presence.
On the other hand, "hero" may be used (inexactly) as a synonym for the more
neutral term "protagonist,"  and here again--if we're not too fussy--the word
fits.  Finally, usage may be *ironic*!  After all, is Slothrop a "hero"?

Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN)