The Deaf, Dumb & Blind Hero

My hero is Tommy from The Who's film version of their album with the same name.  The movie was released in 1975 and starred Roger Daltrey as Tommy.  The movie follows the life of a young boy, who, because of a tragic incident brought on by his parents early in his life, has grown up deaf, dumb and blind. Tommy throughout the movie tries to gain acceptance from his parents and wants to be freed from his 'prison'.  Along the way, he is abused by his relatives entrusted to babysit him, becomes a pin-ball wizard despite his obvious disabilities, and watches his mother fall into the grips of madness. He eventually becomes a sort of cult leader, and thousands of people flock to see him everyday. 

Tommy follows the hero pattern early on his childhood, with 'the birth'.  This occurs when Tommy witnesses his step father murder his biological father, and then is told by his parents that he never saw it, heard it, or will ever speak of it. This makes Tommy deaf, dumb and blind (silly yes) and his journey begins.  Tommy's impossible task is to get his parents to truly 'feel, see, and hear' him again, but they are too wrapped up in their own selves to do so.  Tommy's journey involves him being abused physically, emotionally, and sexually by others in his life and him becoming a 'pin-ball wizard'.  Tommy's impossible task is finally accomplished when his mother accidentaly throws him through a mirror into a pool in a fit of rage.  Doing so brings back Tommy's sight, hearing and voice, and his parents are now able to truly 'see, hear, and feel' him again

This is where the hero cycle is re-arranged though, as Tommy gets his reward first, and then experiences hardships on the way home. The reward for Tommy is that he has the acceptance of his parents, he has all his senses back, and people also flock to him believing that he is a miracle child, and he is adored and worshiped. 

The return home type hardships occur when all the people who had once followed Tommy in a cult like fashion, rebel against him, killing his parents and destroying his home.  Tommy remains optimistic though, and ends the movie happy.

Tommy to me is a hero becuase he had impossible odds to overcome.  Imagine being deaf, dumb and blind, and trying to overcome that and attempting make your parents notice you for who you really are?  Tommy is also very kind, becuase throughout his whole journey, he was thinking of others and how he could make them happy.  Where most people would be overwhelmed by fame and riches, Tommy was still very down to Earth and family was still all that he wanted.  Tommy also doesn't seek out revenge on those who made his life miserable.  Instead, he forgives and tries to help them to become better people.  And finally, throughout the film, Tommy always remains optimistic, and never once gave up hope, which to ne, is what makes a true hero.