Module 5 overview and topics

Mythology

Greek Heroism

Heroism is a significant element in Greek mythology. Many of the most famous stories that are still studied and adapted into films today are based directly on the myths from ancient Greece. While these stories themselves are adapted in the modern times, the stories also take shape in modern stories that are not directly related to the myths themselves. Greek heroes from mythology have a few consistent similarities, though their individual stories are distinct. Most of the heroes, if not all, have some ancestry that leads directly to the gods. In other words, Greek heroes have some kind of link through their lineage to those who are immortal and all powerful. This heritage gives the heroes some kind of mystical advantage, insight, or strength that contributes directly to their status or achievements of heroism. Greek heroes from mythology also always have a tragic flaw. They have some kind of weakness that both contributes directly to their downfall or failure(s) along their journeys, yet these flaws also contribute to their strength as heroes. The tragic flaw is an opportunity to learn for the hero and to triumph despite their flaws.

These basic characteristics of Greek heroes influences the conception of the hero in modern times. There are some clear connections between Greek heroes and comic books heroes. Batman has a tragic flaw which is also the place or source from where he draws strength. He is afraid of bats, and that is the symbol he uses to represent himself. He uses his fear to become a hero that bad guys, in turn, fear. Superman's tragic flaw or apparent weakness is kryptonite, the rock that is a remnant of his destroyed home planet. His planet is gone, in its original form, and the pieces of his home, which he can never return to, in turn, weaken him greatly when no other weapons have the ability to destroy him. He has incredible powers and strength, and out of all the many ways villains try to hurt him, they always fail because in the end, what can hurt him is a piece of a rock.

Batman, as Bruce Wayne, has powerful lineage, just the Greek heroes. He may not be descended from the gods themselves, but there still exists a comparable mythology around him. His parents, but particularly his father, was a very rich and powerful man. His parents were philanthropists and very prominent in the world of business, of which Bruce Wayne is the heir of their legacy. His parents' souls exist in heaven, or in the clouds, or somewhere where Bruce can only return to them through death, which is similar to Greek mythological heroes that can return to or greet their god-ancestors after death and after living a life truly reflecting heroism. Superman's father was a prominent leader and scientist on Krypton. He also came from a strong family and cannot return to them. The deaths of these modern heroes' parents distance them from their "god-like" parents (in reputation and deeds) just as human and demi-god Greek heroes from mythology are distanced from their ancestors who are gods and other kinds of powerful mythological beings who endow them with strength and serve as motivation.