The Greek Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice

The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice
Love is a strong motivator which has the power to make individuals do incredible, illogical things (Shmoop University, 2019). The mythical tale of Eurydice and Orpheus may be counted among the most well –known and –loved of Greek myths. Essentially a story of passion and love, the tale also dwells upon the human spirit’s shortcomings (Greekmyths, 2019). The story is rife with examples of remarkable as well as imprudent things people do for love. Orpheus is utterly devastated by the loss of his wife, Eurydice, and makes the crazy but grand choice to bring her back to life from the Underworld. However, while making his return journey to Earth accompanied by his beloved, he makes the error of turning around and looking at her – an irrational choice, given he was well-aware that it would send Eurydice back to Hades. The latter instance is certainly a lesson to trust those one loves. Though Orpheus hears his wife behind him, he isn’t certain she is actually there; if only he had stood his ground and had faith, they could have had their happy ever after (Shmoop University, 2019).
Orpheus was no mere mortal. A prince of Thrace and son of a Muse, he inherited the gift of music from his mother, which was well fostered in the land where he was raised - Thrace. Indeed, the people of Thrace were recognized as Greece’s most musical inhabitants. Orpheus’s skills were unrivaled among mortals. His powers were limitless when he sang and played. Nothing, animate or inanimate, had the power to resist his charm.
In the deep still woods upon the Thracian mountains 
Orpheus with his singing lyre led the trees, 
Led the wild beasts of the wilderness.
A large portion of Orpheus’s early life was devoted to idyllically pursuing poetry and music. As mentioned earlier, his capabilities transcended, to a great degree, the respect and fame his music gained. Animals and human beings alike were captivated by it with the most inert entities longing to be close to him as well. All followed him. Orpheus was capable of altering rivers’ courses and moving rocks on hillsides. In his prime, he had acquired mastery over the lyre; his musical voice drew listeners from far and wide. One such musical congregation was attended by a lovely and bashful sprite, Eurydice, who was enraptured by his beautiful voice. Bewitched by one another (Orpheus by Eurydice’s beauty and the latter by the former’s music), they fell in love and couldn’t bear to be apart for even a moment. They decided to marry. The union was blessed by the god of marriage, Hymenaios, and a grand feast followed the ceremony (Greeka, 2019).
No light has been shed on how Orpheus went about wooing his beloved, Eurydice. However, clearly, she wouldn’t have had the power to resist his voice. Their days of marital bliss were few. Shortly after they were wed, when the bride was traversing a meadow together with her bridesmaids, she was bitten by a viper, and subsequently met her end. Orpheus was overwhelmed by this sudden, unendurable loss. He decided to journey to the Underworld and attempt to bring his wife back, saying to himself that
With my song 
I will charm Demeter's daughter, 
I will charm the Lord of the Dead, 
Moving their hearts with my melody. 
I will bear her away from Hades (Woodlief, 2001).
When Orpheus made the mistake of looking back to ensure his Eurydice was indeed following him to the world of the living, he ended up breaking Hades’ condition – that he could only have her back if he didn’t turn around whilst journeying back. Orpheus ought to have had more faith; his lack thereof causes him to lose Eurydice forever. The tale teaches readers an important lesson – to trust both in love and the Gods (Enotes, 2019).
References
Enotes.(2019). Orpheus and Eurydice. Retrieved from https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-moral-lesson-we-can-get-story-orpheus-499421
Greeka.(2019). Orpheus and Eurydice. Retrieved from https://www.greeka.com/greece-myths/orpheus-eurydice.htm
Greekmyths.(2019). Orpheus and Eurydice. Retrieved from https://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/orpheus-and-eurydice/
ShmoopUniveristy. (2019). Theme of love and trust in Orpheus and Eurydice. Retrieved from https://www.shmoop.com/orpheus-eurydice/love-trust-theme.html
Woodlief, A. (2001). The story of Orpheus and Eurydice, as told by Apollonius of Rhodes, Virgil and Ovid. Retrieved from https://archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/webtexts/eurydice/eurydicemyth.html