“Unconsciously we all have a standard by which we measure other men, and if we examine carefully we find that this standard is very simple, and is- this: we admire them, we envy them, for the great qualities that we lack. Hero worship consists of precisely this. Our heroes are men who do things that we recognize with regret and sometimes with a secret shame that we cannot do. We don't find much in ourselves to admire, we always privately want to be like someone else. If everyone were satisfied with themselves, there would be no heroes” (Mark Twain, 2013). The Chronicles of Irish History will enlighten us on the stories and chains of events that occurred to bring our country to be represented as it is today. Strong and unparalleled characters who have represented the tales and allegories of Irish history will be present in these historic events, stories passed down through generations, stories that have been embraced and that have inspired every young child to cheer their hero. But what constitutes the right to be called a hero? For many, a father figure may simply be an example of a hero. Obviously in A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle, we follow the life journey of the protagonist, Henry Smart, through crucial moments in Irish history and derive for ourselves the true concept of martyrdom and all these men and women patriots who sacrificed their lives for the good of their country. were justified. The character of Irish culture is summed up by the conception of a Christ-like sacrifice in exchange for the advancement of the state. The martyred dead were canonized in the popular consciousness and they were linked to the redeeming sacrifice of Christ, the martyrdom of the saints, and the heroes and rebels who died for...... middle of paper ...... "Ireland ", says Henry Smart, "was something in the songs that drunken old men cried to as they hung on the gates at three in the morning and we came home to rob them" (Doyle, 69). The last section of the film is the staging of the sacrifice. The slow deterioration of Sand's body painfully expresses his attachment to his beliefs. The pain he and his helpless family endure as he lives the final days of his life, the environment shifts from one of violence to one of care, in the realization that a sacrifice is being made. 'be done. Morality also plays a role. The dominant feeling at the end of the film is that of regret. Why is such self-immolation necessary? Why was this not prevented? Why couldn't the British government seek mediation between the two sides and why let Sands highlight British intransigence.