Skip to main content
Contribution to Book
Sully Sullenberger: An Inspiring Tale of Two Heroic Transformations
Heroic Transformation: How Heroes Change Themselves and the World (2020)
  • Kara E. Cromwell
Abstract
The goal of this chapter is to apply the science of heroism to analyze the life of the hero Sully Sullenberger. I will demonstrate that Sully went through not one, but two hero transformations. Both of his transformations align with Bronk and Riches’ (2017) paradigm of purpose-guided heroism and heroism-guided purpose. In describing these transformations, I will offer an analysis of the definitions of heroism and the hero classification taxonomies that can be applied to Sully. I will then examine Sully’s life before, during, and after his heroic actions using Joseph Campbell’s (1949) monomyth. Finally, I will explore the implications of this argument for society and for future research.
Keywords
  • Sully Sullenberger,
  • Sully hero,
  • aviation hero
Publication Date
2020
Citation Information
Kara E. Cromwell. "Sully Sullenberger: An Inspiring Tale of Two Heroic Transformations" Heroic Transformation: How Heroes Change Themselves and the World (2020)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/scott_allison/112/