Download Perseus: Symbol of Ethical Values When I think of what a he

Perseus: Symbol of Ethical Values
When I think of what a hero represents to me, I think of an indiv
idual who fights for family values and the ethics of a good human being. Greek mythological heroes h
ave many attributes that can be related to positive traits in society today. One such ancient hero i
s Perseus. During his exploits Perseus set standards, which people of ancient Greece could follow an
d which people can follow today. The myth of Perseus shows that he acts within the social and ethica
l boundaries of ancient times, that are similar to the values of today's society. As a child Perseus
and his mother were abandoned in a trunk and left afloat in the ocean. A fisherman found them and a
ccepted them into his family. The fisherman's brother was an evil dictator named Polydectes, who fel
l in love with Perseus' mother, Danae. In order to have Danae all to himself the king plots to get r
id of Perseus. He does this by telling Perseus that the head of a gorgon is a gift he craves more th
an anything else in the world. Polydectes knows that this is an impossible task and will most certai
nly cause death to anyone who attempts it. Despite the difficulty of this assignment, Perseus decide
s to go on this journey because if he accomplishes it Polydectes will leave his mother alone. He fee
ls obligated to protect his mother because she is the only blood relative that he knows of. In ancie
nt Greece the bond between children and their parents was looked upon as being sacred. Even today, s
trong bonds between family members are seen as a positive way people can grow emotionally. Like Pers
eus, many sons and daughters today strive to protect and care for their parents when they grow older
. On his quest, the goddess Athena and the god Hermes help Perseus achieve his goal. They are sympat
hetic to him because they see that he is doing this for the worthy cause of protecting his family. W
ithout the help of the gods, completing his mission would be impossible. The divine help the gods pr
ovide Perseus, which momentarily elevates him to a higher status than other mortals so he may comple
te his mission. According to Stephen Harris and Gloria Platzner, "Perseus literally assumes, at lea
st temporarily, powers like flight and invisibility that humans may dream of but are otherwise reser
ved for the gods."(274). In ancient times people believed that the gods often helped people who had
just cause or who worshiped them with more dedication. The same can be said for today's society. Mod
ern Christians believe that if they follow certain moral rules that God has provided, they will be a
ccepted to an elevated level of being. Also, people often pray when they need strength during trying
times or to complete difficult tasks. During Perseus's return voyage from beheading the gorgon he s
topped in Ethiopia. There he found a beautiful woman who was to be sacrificed to a sea serpent. Pers
eus instantly fell in love with this woman, Andromeda, and vowed that he would rescue her. Edith Ham
ilton adds, " He waited beside her until the great snake came for its prey; then he cut it's head of
f just as he had the gorgons"(207). Perseus marries Andromeda, and she remains by his side until the
end of his days. The moral value that can be interpreted in this part of the story is the power of
love and attraction. This love indeed is the love which begins a family. Perseus fights a giant mon
ster and risks his life for the chance of a loving relationship with the woman that he desires. It i
s a common belief in today's society that the love of another is worth fighting and sacrificing for.
Like Perseus, an individual today is not always willing to give up on love. Once the hardships are
over the love that is received is worth the struggle to obtain it. When Perseus and his new wife ret
urn to his homeland they find that his mother is once again in danger. Pierre Grimal states, "During
his absence Polydectes had tried to rape Danae, who had to seek refuge at the altars of the gods. P
erseus took his revenge by turning him to stone "(343). In this story not only does Perseus feel the
need to protect his family as previously stated, but to protect the rights of a woman from sexual v
iolence. Although some gods did not have great records when it came to sex and women, in ancient Gre
ece, just as it is today rape was viewed as immoral. The fact that he seeks retribution for this mor
al crime shows that Perseus is a model of ethic and moral values of ancient Greece and today's socie
ty. Heroes were symbols of how ancient people should behave. Their journeys and quests were symbolic
of the principles that people of the past admired and tried to follow. Many of these ancient values
are still present in the twenty-first century. The stories of Perseus display many examples of this
. Heroes like Perseus set the boundaries of Ancient Greece, and many of those are still present toda
y. The standards of what a hero consists of in society are paralleled to those Perseus displays in h
is myths.
Works Cited Grimal, Pierre. The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology. London: Pengui
n, 1991. Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. New York: Little, Brown and Cmpany, 1942. Harris, Stephen L, an
d Platzner, Gloria. Classical Mythology: Images and Insights. Mountain View: Mayfield 2001.
perseus
symbol ethical values when think what hero represents think individual fights family values ethics
good human being greek mythological heroes have many attributes that related positive traits society
today such ancient hero perseus during exploits perseus standards which people ancient greece could
follow which people follow today myth shows that acts within social ethical boundaries ancient time
s that similar values today society child mother were abandoned trunk left afloat ocean fisherman fo
und them accepted them into family fisherman brother evil dictator named polydectes fell love with m
other danae order have danae himself king plots does this telling head gorgon gift craves more than
anything else world polydectes knows this impossible task will most certainly cause death anyone att
empts despite difficulty this assignment decides journey because accomplishes polydectes will leave
mother alone feels obligated protect because only blood relative knows greece bond between children
their parents looked upon being sacred even strong bonds between family members seen positive people
grow emotionally like many sons daughters strive protect care their parents when they grow older qu
est goddess athena hermes help achieve goal they sympathetic because they doing worthy cause protect
ing without help gods completing mission would impossible divine help gods provide which momentarily
elevates higher status than other mortals complete mission according stephen harris gloria platzner
literally assumes least temporarily powers like flight invisibility humans dream otherwise reserved
gods times believed often helped just cause worshiped them with more dedication same said society m
odern christians believe follow certain moral rules provided will accepted elevated level being also
often pray when need strength during trying times complete difficult tasks during return voyage fro
m beheading gorgon stopped ethiopia there found beautiful woman sacrificed serpent instantly fell lo
ve with woman andromeda vowed would rescue edith hamilton adds waited beside until great snake came
prey then head just gorgons marries andromeda remains side until days moral value interpreted part s
tory power love attraction indeed begins fights giant monster risks life chance loving relationship
woman desires common belief another worth fighting sacrificing like individual always willing give o
nce hardships over received worth struggle obtain wife return homeland find once again danger pierre
grimal states absence tried rape danae seek refuge altars took revenge turning stone story only doe
s feel need protect previously stated rights from sexual violence although some have great records c
ame women greece just rape viewed immoral fact seeks retribution moral crime shows model ethic heroe
s were symbols should behave their journeys quests were symbolic principles past admired tried many
these still present twenty first century stories display examples heroes boundaries those still pres
ent standards what hero consists paralleled those displays myths works cited grimal pierre penguin d
ictionary classical mythology london penguin hamilton edith mythology york little brown cmpany harri
s stephen platzner gloria classical mythology images insights mountain view mayfieldEssay, essays, t
ermpaper, term paper, termpapers, term papers, book reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, t
est answers, free research, book research, study help, download essay, download term papers