Heroes of Myth: Man Divided Against Himself Ch. 10
The Heroic Pattern Hero s life generally follows a pattern The two fathers, his mortal dad, and his real father, who is divine Freudian interpretation divine father creation to alleviate guilt at wanting dad dead. Hero fighting against monsters (e.g. serpents) and protecting civilization against barbarians (e.g. Amazons) Hero may conquer death by taking trip to Underworld, or otherwise encountering and surviving death (twice-born).
The Hero as Redeemer Hero as Redeemer when humans enter fallen world, the world of time, of decay and death. Pattern seen in Prometheus and Theft of Fire Mortal hero, though, risks death Gilgamesh, the first hero in Western tradition, questions this premise desires immortality
Isolation of Hero Hero is often an enemy of one of the gods The hero s divided nature Wants to transcend mortality, but His efforts to do this isolate him from other mortals Normal people don t get his drive to succeed and excel Isolated from women as well Odysseus is an exception
The Hero and Society Hero is protector of society Hero travels a lot, adding to human knowledge base Hero often associated with particular city and with protecting city. Hero is also danger to city and civilization because of his violent nature
The Hero as Centaur: Image of the Divided Self Hero is both great protector of city, but also danger to it just as centaurs, who are part beast, part human Heracles, the hero, often associated with centaurs When drinking with centaurs, he manages to shoot the most cultured centaur, Chiron, forcing him to accept death to avoid the great pain
The Early Hero, Perseus Perseus Early Life Mother, Danae, visited by Zeus as shower of gold Perseus sent to get Medusa s head by Polydectes Perseus and the Gorgon Gets help from Athena and Hermes Gets gift of shield, scimitar, bag and winged sandals Perseus Other Adventures Saves Andromeda
Perseus, continued Perseus Return Perseus, unlike later heroes, determined to marry Andromeda and have a happily ever after life. Perseus as King Accidentally kills grandfather w/ discus Trades cities with Megapenthes, and becomes king of Tiryns The Death of Perseus Is more successful in reconciling male & female, mortal and god Bellerophon, as rider of Pegasus, too headstrong
The Archetypal Hero: Heracles Son of Alcmena and Zeus Attempt made on baby Heracles life by Hera Known for his appetites and his impulsive nature Kills his first wife, Megara, and his kids Hera may have caused him to go crazy Labors given as punishment so Heracles can atone 12 Labors -- word athloi used ( contests to win a prize ) See book for the 12 Labors Death of Heracles Second wife, Deianira, sends poisoned shirt His immortal soul goes to Olympus and he marries Hebe
Other Heroes -- Theseus Double father Poseidon and Aegeus sleep with Aethra Has series of adventures as young man on way to Athens from Troezen Labyrinth Theseus goes to rescue Athens youth from this monster Gets help from Ariadne Abandons Ariadne on Naxos
Other Heroes Theseus, continued Theseus women Theseus seduces queen of Amazons Has troubled relation with his son, Hippolytus Abandons Ariadne Phaedra, his wife, commits suicide and gets him to curse his son, Hippolytus Tries to kidnap Helen as girl, and goes to Underworld with Pirithous to get Persephone Theseus death Dies in exile on island of Scyrus.
Other Heroes -- Jason Most equivocal hero Largely seen as pretty boy Accomplishes his deeds with help of goddess Aphrodite and Hera, and with Medea Gets Golden Fleece Eludes capture Something of a cad Eager to drop Medea and get a new Greek wife Unheroic death Dies when beam falls off rotting Argo and beans him.
Upper Limit of Human Ambition: Phaethon Phaethon, son of Helius, gets to drive dad s chariot Cannot control it Zeus blasts the chariot and drives Phaethon to his death