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Myths and Symbols Assessment Task One Theseus and the Minotaur by Gabrielle Squires ID: 273926 There are several different versions of the Myth surrounding Theseus and the Minotaur, all however contain the basic ‘Journey’ of Christopher Vogler’s ‘A Writers Journey’. There is not a great amount of connection between Vogler’s beliefs in the hero system and what actually happened, there is enough however to successfully understand the basis for every hero tale ever made, even dating so far back as to ancient Greek Mythology. The most well known version of Theseus and the Minotaur is based around the commands of a King Minos. Minos orders that every nine years, seven Athenian boys and Seven Athenian girls be sent to Crete; whereupon their arrival they would be sent into the Great Maze to be devoured by the Minotaur. Like most myths the journey does not begin with The Ordinary World, mainly because Myths begin without needing to portray a more human like quality to the Hero (Theseus). It is simply accepted that he is a hero, that and it is assumed that the origin of Theseus is already known (Demi-God). This particular Myth begins with Theseus volunteering to slay the monster, his Call to Adventure never really disputed with a Refusal of the Call. Most likely because according to similar stories surrounding Theseus; he was similar in stature to Hercules and Perseus, without fear or real hesitation regarding his role in life. Proclaiming to his father Aegeus that when he returned successful, he would return with the colours white for a sail; Aegeus would know he was alive and had not been devoured. Theseus then takes the place of one of the youths sentenced to death; it is assumed that considering the young age of the selected youths (fifteen to eighteen) he was in fact quite youthful at the time. Vogler is correct in stating that nearly all hero tales come with the aid of a Mentor, in this case it is Ariadne the daughter of King Minos, who gifts Theseus with a ball of string to enable him to find his way out of the Maze. Generally the Mentor represents a higher version of the hero, somebody who may have tried to undergo the task set but failed, then used their knowledge to assist the hero. Ariadne is no such character; she is what modern wording would consider selfish or vain. Not requiring Theseus to prove himself to gain her favour, she is completely willing of her role unlike many different Mentors in separate Greek Myths. The First Threshold is one that has several versions; one believes that Ariadne gave Theseus the string in exchange for freedom from Crete, so that the entire world could worship at her beauty, rather than just Crete. She then showed him to the maze so he may attempt slaughter of the Minotaur, however not without giving him the advice from Daedalus (creator of the Minotaur) gave to her. The other version believes that Theseus was not alone when he entered the maze; he was escorted there by guards along with the other youths to be sacrificed. When the guards locked them in, he then tasked the others with keeping the other end of the string safe while he searched through the maze, thus guaranteeing his safe return upon the beasts’ slaughter. Unlike Vogler’s theory that this should represent a point at which the Hero (Theseus) might feel fear or hesitation at entering the maze, Theseus presents none; possibly because he believes himself to be blessed by the gods. The Road of Trials for Theseus was reasonably simple and contained nothing beyond following the advice of Daedalus to go forwards, always down and never right to eventually locate the Minotaur. The Ordeal in which Vogler writes that in some cases a hero may experience a taste of death, which can give them a greater understanding of life. However as Theseus and the Minotaur is a Mythical tale, it does not highlight exactly what went on while they fought, except ‘a tremendous fight then occurred’, which could of course mean that everything Vogler believes happens in The Ordeal did happen. If the story were told in movie or TV setting, it would no doubt contain many of Vogler’s theories. The main one portraying a change in the character as he prepares to fight the beast; or nearly dies (Taste of death) which normally brings about an elation of emotion for audience. After the death of the Minotaur, in which Theseus stabbed the beast through the throat with a sword, one he smuggled in through in his tunic, The Reward comes into play. In Theseus’s case it was life for himself and the other youths, but also the promised rescue of Ariadne and in turn her younger sister Phaedra from Crete. According to Vogler’s theories, The Reward could have been anything from a realisation from the Hero that he does want to live, or the initiation of Theseus into a True God rather than a Demi God, similar in the was Hercules gained his God-dom. At this point in the myth it was expected that there should have been a celebration or a love scene between Ariadne and Theseus. But that is quickly altered when on The Road Back the boat they escaped on makes dock at a beach, Theseus is ordered by the goddess Athena to leave Ariadne and Phaedra behind when they set sail. Theseus stricken by grief, as he had fallen in love with Ariadne, does as Athena commands. Because Theseus and the Minotaur is a myth rather than fiction book, it does not contain a great chase or escaping villain at the end; it is simply an ending to a story with no expectation of continuation. Vogler states that for a story to feel complete it must have ‘closure’ for the audience, Theseus and the Minotaur is lacking in this regard, as like many Greek Myths it is a tragedy. For rather than change his black sails for white ones upon his return to his home, Theseus forgets in his stricken state. As a result Aegeus commits suicide, believing his son to be dead. In a way this could be considered ‘closure’ for audience, especially considering Theseus’s adventure continues well past the Minotaur trial; but it is in no way classic with its ending.