Skip to main content. Carmel Church. Catalog Entry The heroic figure defending the downtrodden is available in most cultures. With the omnipresent threat of violence and invasion by outside forces and religions, the Middle Ages were a time fraught with peril. Because of this, society became fixated on the heroic feats of those believed to be ordained by God to deliver salvation.
During the Middle Ages, the hero is a commonly seen figure in religious, literary, and historical contexts. The Old English tale of Judith is an epic story of a fearless Hebrew leader putting herself in harm's way in order to save her people. The titular character Judith is the de-facto leader of the Hebrew city of Bethulia.
The lone city is besieged by an Assyrian army led by the evil general Holofernes. Going alone to the enemy encampment, Judith prays to the Almighty for the strength to decapitate the sinful Holofernes. Judith's accomplishments inspire her people to fight back and eventually eliminate the Assyrian army. Judith is noteworthy not only for being an example of a female hero in Old English literature, but also for being a symbol of religious protection. However, tales of a divine heroine fighting for the justice of her people are not exclusive to literature, as the historical figure Joan of Arc shares an uncanny number of similarities to fictional heroes.
Joan of Arc believed that she received a premonition from God compelling her to take up arms against the English armies. Inspiring her fellow soldiers, Joan of Arc became a hero to the French and eventually succeeded in liberating Orleans. Joan of Arc, despite waging a war, remained faithful to her belief in God. In some instances, for example, she allowed English soldiers to retreat on a Sunday instead of killing them.
Despite eventually being executed by the English, Joan of Arc became a martyr for the French cause and lived on as an icon. Similarly, community leaders in religious circles are often seen as heroes for their ability to help those around them.
