Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Real Hero" by Yehuda Amichai offers a unique perspective on the biblical story of the Binding of Isaac, redirecting the focus from the main characters to the ram, a secondary figure in the traditional narrative. Amichai’s poem challenges conventional interpretations of heroism by highlighting the overlooked and the innocent.

The poem begins with a clear assertion: the real hero of the story is the ram, “who didn’t know about the collusion between the others.” This line sets the tone for the poem, emphasizing the ram's innocence and lack of agency in the events that unfold. The ram is portrayed as an unwitting participant, drafted into a role it did not choose and could not understand.

Amichai’s desire to sing a “memorial song” for the ram is a call to acknowledge and honor its sacrifice. He paints a vivid picture of the ram, noting its “curly wool” and “human eyes,” attributes that humanize the animal and elicit empathy from the reader. The transformation of the ram’s “silent” horns into shofars used in battle or in celebration is portrayed as a profanation of its peaceful nature, turning a symbol of life into an instrument of war and triumph.

The poem then shifts to a striking image reminiscent of a “photo in an elegant fashion magazine,” with Isaac and the angel depicted in fashionable attire, indifferent to the sacrifice that has just taken place. Their “empty eyes” and the “two empty places” suggest a lack of understanding or appreciation for the ram's sacrifice. The backdrop of this scene is the ram itself, caught in the thicket, emphasizing its entrapment and isolation.

The conclusion of the poem underscores the abandonment of the ram. The angel, Isaac, Abraham, and God have all left, each returning to their respective domains, leaving the ram as the only true victim of the narrative. By framing the ram as the “real hero,” Amichai not only reinterprets a well-known religious story but also invites readers to reconsider the notion of heroism itself. The poem suggests that true heroism may lie in the unchosen, involuntary sacrifices made by the innocent, and in the acknowledgment of such sacrifices that often go unrecognized in the grand narratives of history and religion.

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