Myths as Insight into the Origins of Humanity - Essay Example

Myths provide an insight into the origins of humanity; they educate humanity about the traditions and culture prevalent in that era. These are not merely tales of some kings who fought on this planet but there is always a message for humanity. The battle itself is a metaphor for the constant turmoil within human beings and the epics teach us to handle it in the righteous manner. The evil forces, the devil within have to be destroyed. Myths give meaning to life; epics deal with the issues of human existence. Each character in a story is important but the hero has special significance. These heroes lead the life of an ordinary human being as this helps us to relate better. Struggle, violence, sex, power are contrary to the laws of humanity but these traits have been used as metaphors in the lives of two power structures, Heracles and Oedipus, who teach humanity that inner purification alone can lead one to salvation. The birth of these super humans itself is different from the ordinary; it is mystical. King Zeus was married to Hera but Heracles was his son through another woman called Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon. It was not for his pleasure that he tricked Alcmene into sleeping with him but she was destined to give birth to the greatest hero of all times. Even though Heracles was super human, he had to undergo enmity of his stepmother, on whose intervention he was sent to exile for twelve years. Nevertheless, this enmity brought him glory. This period of exile was a great learning experience, which is a message for the society. The Labors and Deaths of Heracles teach us to face adversities, challenges and emerge victorious. Heracles had the support of the Gods in accomplishing the feat to kill the evil forces, which establishes that this was one of the purposes of their birth. Immortality can be attained only after one fulfils the purpose of life on earth. Heracles was forced to complete the twelve labors (although initially there were just ten but it was believed that he had taken assistance for two of them, hence he would have to accomplish another two labors). The condition was that if succeeded in completing the twelve glorious deeds he would be made immortal. He did it and then he was granted godhood. He was a brutal person killing ferocious, dangerous animals and man-eating birds. This symbolizes that man needs to kill the ferocious nature or animalistic tendencies within him only after which he can be granted godhood or immortality. Man has to develop and evolve himself to attain immortality. Death does not come until one learns the lessons of life and immortality. All human beings are mortal and obliged to face death. Hercules teaches us to eliminate negative tendencies and learn lessons of immortality. Heracles had countless affairs with women but realized the futility of such relations at the end. He was a valiant archer. In the tenth labor, Heracles is asked to fetch the king of Geryon from Erythia. Geryon had the body of three men joined together at the waist. Heracles had to destroy many wild beasts to reach Erythia and he was granted the boon of a golden goblet, which helped him to cross the ocean. Divine intervention is necessary to cross the ocean of life and conquer the evils within the self. Man evolves as he progresses in life and finally emerges into the day – light dawns in his life, realization comes, the consciousness awakens. To avoid a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus was left as dead on the mountain side immediately after his birth. Oedipus too, like Heracles is a mythical character, who through his life’s struggles showed the human beings that divinity presides over the happiness or sorrow in life. When he came to know of the prophecy, he left Corinth believing Polybus and Merope to be his real parents. This event brings out the godliness within Oedipus, which asserts that he had no incestuous relations or intentions when he married his own mother. This further shows that he was being led to the events and was not the one to decide on the course of action. Destiny brought him face to face with Laius, his father, who Oedipus killed following a fight, ignorant of the truth that Laius was his father. Man cannot fight against nature despite all efforts. He was shattered upon realization that he was the murderer of his father, husband of his mother, sibling of his children. When Oedipus discovers the truth that Jocasta was his mother, and finally when she hangs herself on discovering the truth, he too blinds himself. Oedipus may have shown through his character that he was relentless and uncompromising, but he surrendered to the situation and events. He turned a beggar and wanted to introspect on events and happenings. It is message for human beings that no power is superior to the divine power; anybody who tries to assert himself would meet with a nasty end. Defying the gods result is self-destruction. Apparently Oedipus has violated the fundamental laws of nature and humanity but through the act of blinding himself and accepting exile, he shows to the people that one has to accept responsibility for one’s acts and one has to undergo penance too. Human beings have to finally surrender their identity; kingdom, heroic deeds, and glories are meaningless. The events in his life strongly suggest that Oedipus was led at every step by the acts of God. He becomes a living example to the people. People chant "lull myself to sleep with your name" (T:ll. 1222-23). He gradually transformed himself to such an extent that at the time of death, he was no more a source of horror and ugliness to be expelled. In fact, he was a source of blessing, as people believed that the city that takes him in would never be destroyed. He may have committed dangerous crimes, but when transformed, it becomes a healing and preservative force. People strongly believed that "There is much to ask and much to learn and much to see" (T:ll.1304-5) from Oedipus. For a human to attain the status of a hero, the qualities have to be heightened. He thus becomes worthy of being a guide to the future generations. As demi-gods or reincarnations, these heroes, through their birth, teach humanity that nothing lasts forever, that erotic women destroy men with impossible demands, that the meaning of life can be explained but has to be experienced, that purpose of birth has to be fulfilled, that divine intervention is necessary to attain the seemingly impossible, that consciousness has to be awakened and finally inner purification alone can lead one to salvation. A person’s character is determined based on how he reacts amidst adversities. Godliness within has to be established through the release of impurities and animalistic tendencies. Women tempt, women lure, women attract, women lead man astray; their erotic tendencies cause destruction. They are nothing but delusions in life. The demons or the evil forces that appear to be stronger cannot withstand the powers of God; godliness prevails. Anything that is created has to die; human beings are mortal. To attain the inner purity we need the support and guidance of the gods; divine intervention alone can swim us across the ocean full of wild weeds and sharks. The human qualities have to be heightened to teach the humanity through struggles and sufferings. The power structure is only the process of learning to evolve oneself. Bibliography: Hamilton Edith, Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes Stewart, Michael. "Herakles", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. 05 August 2006 Herakles, Wikipedia, 05 August 2006 Heracles, The Erymanthian Boar, 05 August 2006 Herman M (2001), Defining Language by Embodying Its Antithesis in Two Heroes of Western Literature, 05 August 2006 Johnston I (1996), The Tragic Experience: Introductory Lecture on Oedipus the King and the Bacchae, 05 August 2006 Read More