Hannah Myers

Myers 1 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY; THE “FAIRY TALES” OF AN ANCIENT CIVILIZATION Hannah Myers Classics 102 (CF40) Prof. Craig Taylor April 7th, 2015 Myers 2 “I liked myths. They weren't adult stories and they weren't children's stories. They were better than that. They just were.” - Neil Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane As the above quotation suggests, myths stand to serve a much higher purpose than just some interesting anecdote told to children before bedtime. There is a culture, an entire way of life behind mythology that we can just barely scrape the surface of in modern times. Neil Gaiman states that myths were not created to be infantilized or raised to be an exceedingly high form of entertainment; they just are what they are1. Myths have stood the test of time, a testament towards simpler years of mankind’s existence. Myths are fascinating and filled to the brim with important life lessons that anyone could benefit from. Most tend to be quite graphic in nature, and Socrates himself says that stories told by poets even if they are true, are immoral and should not be repeated to anyone, especially children2. For the purposes of this essay, I will be discussing the Greek Myths of Narcissus, Icarus and Arachne to prove that the lessons learned greatly outweigh the occasional brutality and questionable morality of the myths themselves. In contrast, I will also discuss a few popular fairy tales that are still being told today. In doing so, I will show that violence and other mature acts are common themes no matter where tales or myths originate from and therefore, cannot be factors used to determine which kind of audience should be privy to them. According to the Roman poet Ovid, Narcissus was the son of the river god Caphissus and the water nymph Liriope. He was a youth renowned for his beauty and loved by many. Liriope was told by Tiresias, the blind seer, that Narcissus would live a long life, provided he never saw Gaiman, Neil. “Quotes About Mythology.” www.goodreads.com/quotes. Goodreads Inc. 2007. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. Socrates, Republic 378a-e, Translated by B. Jowett: EBook, Published by Sue Ascher and David Widger, www. gutenberg.org. 27 Aug. 2008. 1 2 Myers 3 his own likeness. After having spurned the affections of the nymph Echo, Narcissus brought upon himself the vengeance of the gods. He ended up coming across a spring and fell in love with his own reflection. There he pined away until he died, and from where his body lay sprang flowers that now bear his name3. The myth of Narcissus speaks about the dangers of vanity and self-absorption. This is a very important myth for children to hear and learn from. Knowing the importance of humility will help them in their developmental years, especially socially. Very few would like to be affiliated with a self-absorbed braggart of their own volition. Knowing the very basics of proper societal grace from a young age is an excellent stepping stone to a proper and well-rounded upbringing. While Narcissus met his fate by a stream, the next individual met his whilst taking to the skies. The well-known myth of Icarus begins with his father, Daedalus. Daedalus was a sculptor and an architect who was said to have built the profoundly enigmatic labyrinth for Minos, the King of Crete4. The Minotaur, born from King Mino’s wife Pasiphae, whom was enamored of a bull, resided in the labyrinth at the king’s bidding. Daedalus fell out of favor with King Minos and was imprisoned in the labyrinth with his son, Icarus. From there, Daedalus set himself to work. He built wings for himself and his son out of wax and feathers so that they might escape and fly to Sicily. However, despite his father’s warning, Icarus was too bold and flew too close to the sun. His wings melted, sending him plunging into the sea and he ultimately drowned4. This particular myth warns against the hazards of hubris and setting unreasonable limits for oneself. Despite Icarus’s horrifying and violent fate, children can learn a lot from this myth. As it is important for children to pretend and allow their imaginations to fly freely, it is equally as 3 Ovid, Metamorphoses Book III: 339-510, Translated and Published by A.S. Kline, www.poetryintranslation.com. Web. 2015. 4 “Icarus”. www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/281016/Icarus. ©2015 Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. Myers 4 important for children to know their limits and to stay grounded. It is dangerous to overexert oneself or to blindly act upon childish delusions. Ignoring the potential consequences to one’s actions does not mean that consequences do not exist. Children need to learn how to make informed choices, to not act recklessly and to accept when a certain task requires an ability they are not yet old enough to possess. Like Icarus, ignoring the advice of a parent or guardian could put the child in a potentially perilous situation. While that might not entail being plunged headlong into a gaping chasm of water, the seriousness of the repercussions can still cause harm to the child or to others around them. For example, people are taught from a young age not to play with matches, otherwise they might hurt themselves or even burn down their entire house. Scare tactics are a well-used and dependable tool when instructing children how to tell right behavior from wrong. Providing the very worst-case scenario to every possibly hazardous decision teaches the child to seriously consider if the risk is worth taking. Mythology provides that very same educational technique parents have relied on for many, many years. According to Ovid, Arachne was the daughter of Idmon of Colophon in Lydia, and also a weaver whom was highly skilled in her craft. Observers marveled at her works, claiming that she must have been taught how to weave by the goddess of crafts and handiwork herself; Athena. Arachne scoffed at the compliment, claiming that Athena could not make finer tapestries than hers. Little did she know that Athena was listening, and took on the boastful girl’s challenge. When the two had completed their works, it was clear that Arachne’s was superior to Athena’s. Arachne’s tapestry depicted the god’s infidelities with mortal women in flawless detail. Enraged at the result as well as the subject matter the girl had chosen, Athena tore Arachne’s tapestry into pieces and struck her on the forehead. Arachne hung herself after being overwhelmed with guilt, and Athena, out of pity, loosened the rope which became a cobweb. Arachne herself was Myers 5 changed into a spider, her and her descendants destined to weave for as long as they lived5. Similar to the myth of Narcissus, Arachne’s personality clearly contains an extreme amount of vanity and pride. By not respecting the patron goddess herself or at least claiming to give Athena recognition for her gift, Arachne causes her own downfall. It is important for children to learn that it is important to respect both their elders and people of authority. The structure of today’s society is built upon mutual respect for each member involved. If a child wishes to partake in society successfully when they are older, they must learn how to defer to other human beings and treat them with the respect they deserve. People cannot be turned into spiders if they refuse to do so, but they run the risk of being ostracized. A good reputation is one of the most important things a person can have, regardless of status. Most Greek and Roman myths contain mature material of a questionable nature. However, are the fairy tales that we tell children today any less violent or immoral? For example, the story of Rapunzel speaks of a girl impregnated out of wedlock that is cast away by her witch mother to live in the desert. Her prince’s fate is far worse; after making his way up to the tower and finding not Rapunzel there, but the witch, he jumps and is blinded by thorns. The two of them then search the earth for their lost love until they reunite at last years later6. In Cinderella, the stepsisters lop off parts of their feet in an attempt to fit the slipper. When Cinderella and the prince eventually wed, the stepsisters try to win her good favour and instead get their eyes pecked out by birds and live the rest of their lives in eternal darkness7. Lastly, Snow White had 5 Ovid, Metamorphoses Book VI: 1-145, Translated and Published by A.S. Kline, www.poetryintranslation.com. Web. 2015. 6 Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm (Translated by Margaret Hunt, 1884). “Rapunzel”. www.germanstories.vcu.edu/grimm/rapunzel_e.html. Virginia Commonwealth University (Robert Goodwin-Jones), ©-. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. 7 Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm (Translated by Margaret Hunt, 1884). “Aschenputtel/Cinderella”. www.germanstories.vcu.edu/grimm/cinder.html. Virginia Commonwealth University (Robert Goodwin-Jones), ©-. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. Myers 6 to endure not one, but four different murder attempts by the vain queen whom just wanted to be the fairest in the land8. The violent nature of myths and fairy tales fall on a considerably similar level. Rape, murder, cannibalism, eternal punishment, cruel mutilation, both genres of storytelling cover it all. However, the point of both is not to horrify or disgust, but to teach important lessons. They are cautionary tales in every sense of the phrase, and people of all ages could stand to learn from them in their pure, undiluted form. Some may think that mythology is from an ancient time, an outdated and irrelevant way of thinking. Others do not look past the surface; focusing instead on the brutal acts committed instead of the meaning of the myth overall. By having such a mindset when considering these tales, people are blind to what is truly important. Everyone can benefit knowing not to be boastful, but humble instead. To not be vain and self-absorbed, but kind and courteous to others. In today’s Capitalist society, far too many are lost in their own successes to look around and appreciate the world and people around them. Regarding the violent themes prominent in most Greek myths, children should still be educated about them in their pure, unaltered state. Manipulative tactics are a way of upbringing and always have been. Children are far more resilient than people assume. The world is a violent and deceitful place; but teaching children how to discern the bad from the good in the world and fend it off is infinitely more worthwhile than sheltering them. Ignorance is an easily breakable shield; useful only to those dealing the harsh blows of reality for their own benefit. Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm (Translated by Margaret Hunt, 1884). “Schneewitchen/Snow White”. www.germanstories.vcu.edu/grimm/schneeeng.html. Virginia Commonwealth University (Robert Goodwin-Jones), ©-. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. 8 Myers 7 Works Cited Gaiman, Neil. “Quotes About Mythology.” www.goodreads.com/quotes. Goodreads Inc. 2007. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm (Translated by Margaret Hunt, 1884). “Aschenputtel / Cinderella”. www.germanstories.vcu.edu/grimm/cinder.html. Virginia Commonwealth University (Robert Goodwin-Jones), ©-. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm (Translated by Margaret Hunt, 1884). “Rapunzel”. www.germanstories.vcu.edu/grimm/rapunzel_e.html. Virginia Commonwealth University (Robert Goodwin-Jones), ©-. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm (Translated by Maragret Hunt, 1884). “Schneewitchen / Snow White”. www.germanstories.vcu.edu/grimm/schneeeng.html. Virginia Commonwealth University (Robert Goodwin-Jones), ©-. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. “Icarus”. www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/281016/Icarus. ©2015 Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. Ovid, Metamorphoses Book III: 339-510, Translated and Published by A. S. Kline, www.poetryintranslation.com. Web. 2015. Ovid, Metamorphoses Book VI: 1-145, Translated and Published by A. S. Kline, www.poetryintranslation.com. Web. 2015. Socrates, Republic 378a-e, Translated by B. Jowett: EBook, Published by Sue Ascher and David Widger, www.gutenberg.org. 27 Aug. 2008.