The hero archetype survives another generation

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Book 37 Page 32

The ‘hero archetype’ survives another generation

Dear Mum and Dad

Hope you are well. I’ve been doing fine here at movie world.

Well! What do you think? You may not recognise me cause I’ve lost a few pounds working out in the gym three times a week, but that’s me in the middle; I got the job, I’m Batman.

So I’m the guy in the black suit again, back in the old “black Batman uniform” again, just like when I was a kid. You remember how I use to run around the back yard wearing dads black robe: well I’m ‘back in black’ and it feels like I’m saving the world all over again? It’s a really great job! Who else could go to work and be idealised by so many people. The kids just adore me.

It’ funny; I always wanted to meet Batman when I was a kid, you remember that don’t you!? And now I’m doing something even better, I am Batman. And what’s more, they’re paying me for it! I get to be all those kids ‘super hero,’ if only for a day. You should see their darlings little faces when they first set eyes on me, me in my shinny black suit from head to toe. I’ve got the super hero line down pat these days, “Holly smokes Robin,” I say, “we better get back to the Bat cave right away.” That’s what I usually say just after their initial shock of seeing me ‘dies down.’

‘Robins’ not in the photo though, he must have had the day off the day I took my camera to work. Ah you should see the kids little faces when I actually say something; up until then I think they think I’m just a figment of their fertile T.V. imaginations. ‘I’ might be ‘acting’ but I can tell you, there’s nothing unreal about how their faces light up and the way I personally feel when I see them smile.

It really does take me back to when I was a kid, feeling like I was on top of the world and supremely in charge. Some of the younger kids even ask me whether I really am Batman!? Of course I tell them “yes.”

The other people at work are really swell to. Alfred, (he’s the green guy known to the kids as “Martian’s”) a whole lot of fun. I’ve had some really interesting conversations with him about life and about the job and what it really means in the big scheme of things. I think he’s quite wise really and I actually look up to him, and not of course in the ‘super hero’ kind of way. And “wonder woman,” I mean “Pricilla,” she’s a really nice girl. I’ve been thinking of asking her out on a date, but I wouldn’t want the kids to see us both out in the streets together, it just doesn’t sound right, Batman and Wonder Woman ‘an item.’ We super heroes tend to act alone in the kids eyes. Although in the picture that I sent you, there are enough super heroes to ‘save the world over five times. And judging from the news of late, it could do with some serous saving. But anyway, I won’t go into that.

How’s Matt going? Still working at the factory? And how’s his kids!? Show him and his kids the picture will you? He should get a good kick out of it since I was the one who use to force him to be ‘Robin’ when we were young.

Anyway, bye for now

Love you all,

Alistair

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Dear Alistair

Thanks for the letter son. It was nice to hear about what you’ve been getting up to. Matt says that his “kids really love the picture you sent them.” Apparently they all knew the super heroes in it and they just couldn’t believe that you were ‘Batman.’ Apparently, Matt’s daughter ‘Molly’ is a real fan of the woman super hero.

I don’t know what they call her, I’ve lost track of all the super heroes these days, but what ever her name is, she’s really made an impression upon Molly. When I was a kid we had a whole different set of super heroes. They have some really weird ones these days, don’t’ they son?! Still I suppose a super hero is a ‘super hero’ no matter what they’re called.

I remember when I was a kid; ‘super man’ happened to be my favourite. Personally I really do think the kids need to have something / or someone to look up to. It’s good for their ‘growing years.’ Its gives them someone they can idealise, someone they can ‘aspire to be like’ when they grow up. Although, as I think you might be implying in your letter son, everyone, (even adults) have to have a ‘hero archetype’ in their lives somewhere.

Anyway, I’m really proud of you son. We’ll see you when you come down next. Keep up the good work. Mum passes on her love and says she’ll write soon.

Bye for now, your loving father, John.