Saturday, February 26, 2011

Classic Story or Classic Idea?

Everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet: a classic tale about forbidden love and mixed messages leading to the death of the star-crossed lovers. This very plotline has lead to innumerable novels, short stories and films all on that same basic idea of the power of love. But was William Shakespear the first to think of this? Many would be surprised to hear that the answer is, in fact, no. In Edith Hamilton's MYTHOLOGY, I came across a section called Eight Brief Tales of Lovers (sounds slightly cheesy, I know). The very first tale in this section is called Pyramus and Thisbe (pg. 101). This story follows an identical plotline to that of Shakespear's classic Romeo and Juliet:

1. Pyramus and Thisbe notice each other after living beside each other all their lives
    - Romeo and Juliet meet after living in the same city as members of the two most prestigious families
2. Pyramus and Thisbe, after being forbade to see each other as their families hated each other, find a chink in the wall between their properties and through it, they whispered to each other without their families' knowledge
   - Romeo and Juliet, after being torn apart by feuding families, talk in the seclusion of Juliet's balcony (very famous and influential scene)
3. Pyramus and Thisbe plan to escape the confines of their restrictive families after growing tired of yearning to do more than simply talk
  - Romeo and Juliet, too, plan their escape and part ways
4. Thisbe shows up at the clearing that was to be their meeting place, and waits for Pyramus to come. A lioness stalks into the clearing after making a kill, with blood in its teeth. Thisbe flees, but not before dropping her cloak, which the lioness "mouths" and tears, leaving a bloody torn mess.
  - Juliet is set to be married, so she arranges a plan, and with the help of Friar Laurence, she fakes her own death using a sleeping solution
5. Pyramus comes to the clearing and finds Thisbe's cloak bloody and torn and, under the assumption that she is dead, takes a sword and plunges it through his own heart
  - Romeo sees Juliet "dead" and after visiting her tomb, drinks a poision, also killing himself
6. Thisbe comes back to the clearing to find Pyramus dead and his blood shed everywhere, so she too takes his sword and kills herself with it
  - Juliet wakes to find Romeo dead next to her and, finding the loss of love unbearable, she takes a dagger and plunges it into her own chest
7. The gods and Thisbe and Pyramus's families were pitiful in the end, finally seeing what could have prevented such a tragedy in the first place
  -The Montagues and Capulets begin to mend their differences after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet

After seeing this nearly identical story of star-crossed lovers, it is very difficult to see if one influenced the other. Do you think that Shakespear heard of this tale before composing his own play, or is it simply because he was human that he came up with his own story based on the same idea? Are there other ancient tales that bring upon an idea that is fundamental in more modern literature? What ideas can be seen throughout many authors' work because of this idea that humans have similar ideas because they are human? Do you think that this idea is possible?

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Introduction to Mythology and Archetypes

What is mythology exactly? This is a question that I plan to answer over the next 8 weeks or so through the exploration of various archetypes. This said, I want to begin with a bit of a brief introduction to the world of archetypes, and how mythology comes into play where you would least expect it.

Everyone knows mythology, but does everyone see mythology in everyday novels, films, comic books, etc.? To start off with, here's an example that most people should be able to relate to: Harry Potter. A worldwide phenomenon about a young wizard and his journeys through a series of seven novels, and a story that I, personally, have been fascinated with since the age of 11. Whether you have read the books an insane amount of times (I went through a phase from about grade 5 to 7 where I read the entire series about 9 times), or you wait patiently for the movies to come out; you know the story...or do you? While the whole story of an orphan boy discovering that he is much more than ordinary is a captivating one, it is also a very typical archetype with many references to mythology. 

Harry's departure begins the moment that his parents are murdered by the evil Lord Voldemort, beginning the 17-year journey to finish what was started. This is the Call to Adventure part of his departure. This, as in most archetypes is followed by the Refusal of the Call, but interestingly enough, this choice is not made by Harry, but rather by his Aunt and Uncle who want to "stamp the magic out of him" and who abuse him and show him nothing but resentment in the 11 years that follow. It is on the night of his 11th birthday that his Supernatural Aid, in the form of Hagrid, the friendly half-giant, comes and shows him who he truly is ("You're a wizard, Harry"). Then comes the Crossing of the First Threshold, when Harry finally steps into the world he never knew he belonged to (Trip to Diagon Alley). He finally enters the last stage of departure, The Belly of the Whale, when he climbs aboard the Hogwarts Express, unknowing that he will never be the same when he returns.

Harry's introduction to the magical world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is his Initiation. Over Harry's next six years at the school, he endures the Road of Trials (at this point, it is impossible for me to explain 6 books worth of trials, so you may just have to read them) and nearing the end of his sixth year, he meets The Goddess (who happens to be his best friend's sister - awkward!). After the Atonement with the Father (Dumbledore) Harry realizes what he must do and the severity of the situation he must take on, and throughout the seventh book, he starts a journey (journey in a journey) to finally complete his quest of defeating Voldemort. Nearing the end of the seventh book is Harry's Apotheosis and the Ultimate Boon, which, to avoid ruining the book or movie for those who are unfamiliar, I will not explain in detail, but if you have read the seventh book, these details are quite easy to pick out.

Harry's Return is not explained in detail, but the final part of it is in the epilogue, that being Freedom to Live.

As you can see, the basic plotline of Harry Potter is very connected to mythology, and I can tell you in all honesty, that this is just the begining of the similarities and I will most certainly continue on with those on a later date. Now, although I may have ranted for a while, the whole point that I was trying to get across is that once you are able to identify the basic qualities of archetypes, you will be able to see them in almost all literature (even the ones that you enjoy). It really shows you a whole new level to the things you love to read and watch.