The label courage or courageous tends to wield extreme power within our minds.

We allow this phrase to carry such heaviness inside the confines of our consciousness, and it is as if this word is attached to some unmeasurable, incredibly subjective weight. What is an act of courage, who can be labeled as courageous, and how does one possess courage are ponderings that constantly swirl around in our minds, often uncontrolled and unrealized. While courage can stem from selfish emotions such as hubris or self-absorption, as a general rule, the term courage implies an action or characteristic that is overwhelmingly positive. Folklore and the stories emerging from society seep into our beings and contribute to the constant emphasis on courage.

There are many aspects of courage that are intricately woven into our tales, and celebrated stories highlight the moral standards and most sought-after characteristics valued by our society. The myths and the stories at the heart of every culture show what is most deeply cherished by that community. However, in the same way that we all praise courage, we forget the trials, time, and triumphs, among many other things, within a hero's journey that cultivates courage. We ignore the shared reality that we all stand on the same unstable ground and forget about the tremendous courage common tasks and struggles of everyday life demand of us. The line between innate courage and developing the courage to simply show up for the everyday challenges of life becomes blurred.

Folklore incorporates similar themes and essential characteristics while also attempting to balance both the fantastical nature of the tale and ensuring that these stories contain some semblance of normal life. Every tale has a central conflict or problem, with a subsequent decision that must be made, and the characters often depend upon the gods or supernatural forces to find a solution. Whether Odin from Norse Mythology, Zeus from the Greeks, or witches like Baba Yaga of Slavic Folklore, these old mythical figures often depict our reliance on a greater power. People appreciate stories that incorporate both everyday life and fantasy. We enjoy the image of Prometheus, a powerful Greek Titan tricking the Gods and stealing fire behind Zeus's back. Prometheus’s deceit and trickery occurring with the shiny, celestial Mt. Olympus as a backdrop places human experience into fantastical lore. While we like to dive into imaginative worlds filled with magic that allow us to forget everyday life struggles, the tales cannot be so fantastical and far from normal life that they lose all relatability.

Moreover, acutely embedded in all folklore is intense human emotion, often buried behind the struggles and triumphs of a hero's tale. Strong emotions and human connection are essential to the craftsmanship of powerful characters in these fairy tales. Both in real life and in fairy tales, relationships are critical, as all people crave some kind of love and intimacy in their life. But fear is just as widespread as love. A world that is filled with dragons and monsters is just a fantastical depiction of a world full of evil symbols and viciousness. Clearly, human emotion motivates the creation of folklore and hero tales.^[1]

Furthermore, folklore is so captivating because it allows us to escape from reality and provides a respite from the fear and chaos of life. The hero's journey and the triumphs of our favorite protagonists tend to resonate with us most deeply. Watching the hero's journey unfold is an emotional way we can navigate through hardship and find joy. By reading about a character battling a monster, we derive tremendous pleasure and comfort. We all have a deep desire to feel safe from danger, and hearing about the courage of storybook heroes imparts a sense of courage in our own lives. We like to vicariously live through the brave feats of figures like Prometheus, Atlanta, King Arthur, or Circe. Their strong will, power, and successes make us feel safe. Still, while we derive tremendous strength from these stories, we often make the mistake of choosing to separate ourselves from these beloved characters and their dramatic tales.

We forget the vital shared aspects of stories that relate to everyday people. For instance, most fairy tales occur in natural settings such as inside the home, in the woods, in a field, or in a village. Often, the glamor or supernatural elements surrounding a protagonist can overshadow the fact that the main character is a relatable, quick-witted, and cunning everyday person placed in extreme, and occasionally mystical circumstances.^[2] While in many stories the hero has innate courage, arguably, the hero's journey and the entire course of a quest is what allows them to truly earn the title "courageous." These truths become forgotten, and instead we prefer to build heroes up in our minds, making their achievements seem wholly unattainable. At the same moment that we idolize courage, we ignore the entire process it takes to develop the very thing we yearn for.

Critically, we forget that the characters and heroes in many of these stories come from humble backgrounds, and often, their initial choices stem from a simple desire to improve their lives. Jack did not need to climb the beanstalk, nor did Cinderella have to go to the ball. These characters desired to better their circumstances, and that's why they engaged with the mystical. Moreover, it is throughout their encounter with the supernatural and over the course of an entire journey that they develop the true courage we idolize and love. We must remember that folk stories often begin with normal people looking for ways to change their circumstances, and their journey allows them the time, experiences, and nuance to develop praiseworthy, idealized courage.

Courage does not need to be some exclusive trait that we all desire yet believe is utterly unattainable. It exists in the way we treat one another, the times we reach out for help, the risks we take, in trying again after rejection, and the many other ways we strive daily to better our lives. As our folklore highlights, we must recognize that we all have the capacity to become courageous.

Sources

• [1] https://www.jstor.org/stable/20332465
• [2] https://www.augusthouse.com/common-characteristics-of-folktales
• https://theamericanscholar.org/happily-ever-after/
• https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletters/authentichappinessc
• https://www.thoughtco.com/defining-terms-myth-folklore-legend-735039
• https://historycooperative.org/prometheus-titan-god/#:~:text=He%20stays%20on%20the%20back,of%20Zeus%20and%20his%20brutal