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Mythological Themes Include:

Fate – The power of fate hangs over the lives of all the characters Edith Hamilton describes in her in her renown book, Mythology, and even controls the gods themselves. In Greek mythology, Fate was personified as three sisters: Clotho, the spinner of life’s thread, Lachesis, the allotter of a person’s destiny, and Atropos, who cut the thread at death.

Pride and Hubris – The greatest sin in many myths is when a mortal grows too proud and claims to be the equal or superior of the gods. This arrogance, also called “hubris,” is inexplicably common and always punished horribly. 

Heroism – Heroism and the motif of the hero’s quest are important elements in Mythology, and represent one of the highest ideals of ancient cultures.

Justice and Vengeance – Justice is a complicated and sometimes inscrutable concept in myths, as neither the heroes nor the gods act as infallible moral authorities. There were certain rules held sacred in society, like being hospitable to guests, respecting one’s parents, or avenging a loved one’s murder, and the poets often created situations where these rules contradicted each other, which lead to situations of vengeance. 

Beauty – Beauty appears in many myths, as people elevated art, music, and physical beauty above most other virtues. Beauty is often considered more important than morality or religious piety, and becomes a valuable resource that can be used for good or evil. Indeed, physical beauty more often than not causes trouble. [Cosby, Matt. “Mythology Themes.” LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 3 Mar 2014. Web. 28 Apr 2023.] Continue reading →