I picked Hugh "Papa" Chance from David James Duncan's novel The Brothers K as an example of a modern hero. He is the patriarch of the Chance family and a very important figure to every member of the family. He is an ordinary man just trying to get by in life and find happiness.
Hugh Chance is a great example of a modern hero. He has human weaknesses that are explored in detail throughout the novel. For example, the narrator, Kincaid Chance, describes Hugh's smoking addiction. When Kincaid actually confronts his father about smoking, he gets slapped. This clearly exhibits Hugh's weakness through his substance addiction. Not only that, he instantly regrets the slap right after it occurs. Parents are most definitely not perfect people, but they try their best and that is what Hugh tries to do.
Hugh also struggles for insight throughout the entire novel. At first, he has to come to terms with the fact that he is not able to play baseball. This takes him a long time and the Chance family is uneasy when he is moody and withdrawn. After that, he is thrown a curveball (no pun intended) when one his son, Irwin, is thrown into a mental asylum. At this point, Hugh struggles to find meaning in his chaotic life.
Hugh Chance is a modern hero. He is flawed, but he is always trying to do the best that he possibly can.
