Notes

Nagakura 1
Esther Nagakura
Mr. Luu
English 7 Honors
20 December 2019
Loyalty Over Money
You become a hero when you stop caring about money.​ ​Guo Jing, for example, doesn’t
want wealth or fame, yet he is still considered a major hero in this famous book titled, ​A Hero
Born​, which is part of the series ​Legends of the Condor Heroes​.​ ​Guo Jing is the main protagonist
in the book, ​A Hero Born​, written by Jin Yong​. ​It takes place mainly in Mongolia, where Guo
Jing’s long yet epic journey begins.​ ​When you have a disregard for wealth, your view of the
world becomes enriched, and your horizons are broadened.​ ​Loyalty becomes more of a priority,
clearing the blindness that wealth and riches can bring.

Loyalty can dominate your actions in the way you think, and whom you trust.​ ​Halfway
into ​A Hero Born​, a swarm of black condors had killed one of the white condors.​ ​Soon after,
loyalty overcomes its partner.​ ​Jin Yong writes,​ ​"The other white condor had been circling all this
time, reluctant to return after having witnessed from afar the death of its companion.​ ​Just then it
came shooting through the clouds and flew straight into the cliff face." (Yong, 200) This shows
that after losing its mate, the condor refused to live any longer without its companion.​ ​Bound by
loyalty, they would meet again in the heavens. Later in the book, Jamuka plans to kill Temujin,
his sworn brother. It is written in the book, “It is settled. Once we are rid of Temujin, we raid his
camp and kill them all.” (Yong, 223) This shows that loyalty can be broken easily when you are
loyal to others who are hateful. It influences your actions, and it can lead you to losing trust.
Wealth can be blinding, especially if you are exposed to a lot of it. A great example would
be Yang Kang, who grew up in riches and royalty. The author writes, “The onlookers were
disgusted that the rich young man’s actions should result in the spilling of blood… By now,
everyone was in agreement that he was a most disagreeable young man.” This shows that Yang
Kiang is not arrogant because he chose to, he is arrogant because he was raised in royalty and
riches. Later in the book, Wanyan Kang is arguing with his mother about why he can’t marry
Mercy. “Ma, do I have to keep reminding you? We are a royal family. How can I marry some
wandering peasant girl from the rivers and the lakes? Father says he will find me a suitable wife.”
This shows that Yang Kang believes he is too perfect to marry a lowly girl. Most men would have
gladly taken Mercy’s hand because she is very beautiful. But Kang only wants wealth and power,
and has it in his head that he’s too brilliant and amazing to marry anyone but a princess.
Having both loyalty and disregard for wealth creates a balance; you can't have once without the other. You must have both to become a hero.