When it comes to superheroes, the first word we would use to describe Superman isn’t “relatable.” He can fly, he is super strong and he is bulletproof.
However, when we dig a little bit deeper, we can see that Superman is very much like all of us.
His real name is Kal-el, and it is because he comes from a completely different planet. His name is from a language that Earth’s people couldn’t understand, and his real story sounds a lot like one of an immigrant. He’s changing his name so that people can pronounce it, translating and hiding his origins to fit into society.
That is the story of every one of us who wasn’t born where we currently live and work, searching for a place to feel like home while still remembering where we come from. His adoptive parents taught Superman important values like being kind to each other, doing the right thing, helping and standing up for others.
More importantly, they taught him that it was the right way, and Superman learned how to follow that way in the future. Each of us can learn and pass it on to others through our heritage and family. His power isn’t the result of his mind but the dedication he has to that mind.
Superman has a secret identity named Clark Kent, who leads a normal human life as a reporter. This relates to how we lead different lives at home, at school or at work, and we work hard to keep the balance.
When Superman is using his powerful abilities, you might think that he couldn’t possibly ever feel weak or afraid. However, Clark felt sad about never being able to see his home planet, Krypton, and sad there are so many bad things happening in the world that he can’t save them all.
These moments remind us that Superman isn’t a perfect being, and just like us, he feels loss and sorrow. It is essential to remember that being strong is not measured by the number of times someone falls, but by the number of times they can get back up and fight onward through challenges.
Additionally, something worth mentioning is that Superman doesn’t want superpowers for the sake of rewards but because he believes that it’s the right thing to have them. He shows us that being a hero is not about having fame and glory but about helping and improving the lives of people in need in whichever way possible.
It’s not about the superpowers but rather what you do with the power and trust that you have. Finally, Superman also feels like an outcast among humans, but he still does everything to make the world better and try to fit in. This is an emotion that all of us experience—trying to discover where our place in the world and our purpose is.
So, while Superman can do transcendental feats, in reality, his story is, at its core, human. His journey is about finding your identity, living through the pain, making impossible decisions with your morals and beliefs at heart, and learning to coexist with different aspects of your life.
Through the life of the fictitious superhero, we learn that we don’t need superpowers to be powerful and that sometimes, the most extraordinary power is being human.
