Spring 2016
Spring 2016
Was Hercules a Hero ?
Raised on Disney movies , I was taught to understand that Hercules was born gawky and clumsy but through ridiculous cross-fit exercise , he was made into a man whose strength rivaled that of the gods . Kidnapped and later adopted , he was never absolved of his feelings of being out of place in society . Yet , through emotional singing and a devotion to “ go the distance ” he was able to discover his past . He was the son of gods , Zeus and Hera . Yearning to reconnect himself to Mount Olympus , Hercules would have to prove himself a hero , despite his enemy Hades ’ s wishes . The only way to do so : save a damsel in distress twelve times . Before Disney digs itself deeper into the misogynistic hole , the story bends and it is proven that saving women alone will not make him a hero . Hercules is only made immortal when he is willing to give up his life to save another . The unselfish act turns him into a god , worthy of a place among his parents . He however chooses love in the end and lives happily ever after . Or so it seems .
Disney has been able to make the story of Hercules a romantic and heroic tale . However , the mythology of Hercules is far more brutal and bloody . His conception is similar to most of Zeus ’ s illegitimate offspring . Zeus was attracted to the married mortal Alcmene , whose husband Amphitryon was a Greek warrior and happened to be away one night . Being opportunistic , Zeus disguised himself as Alcemene ’ s husband and spent the night with her . However , the next night Alcemene spent the night with her actual husband , resulting in the conception of twins with two different fathers . Thus , Hercules was neither kidnapped nor adopted nor the son of Hera . Hera was in fact the real enemy of Hercules . She was a scorned woman with an agenda to pursue all of Zeus ’ s lovers and their children without clemency . Keeping in line with her character , Hera tried to kill baby Hercules by placing two poisonous snakes in his crib . However , the snakes ’ necks wilted under the power of the baby ’ s hands . Hercules was born with a strength that rivaled that of the gods .
Hera refused to give up , and rested upon intervening in his life to constantly punish him for being the son of Zeus . However , Hercules was able to marry his cousin ’ s daughter Megara and produce three children despite Hera ’ s efforts . But Hera could not allow Hercules this happiness and struck him with a madness that led him to murder his wife and children . It was this bloodshed that led to his punishment : twelve labors guaranteed to make him immortal if he could survive them .
The twelve tasks were downplayed by Disney , but Hercules did slay the Nemean Lion and the Lernaean Hydra to complete his tasks according to myth . Although he was stronger than the average man , Hercules wasn ’ t able to harness his power until he began these twelve feats of atonement . He was eventually able to enter Mount Olympus as he laid down upon his funeral pyre . The flames consumed his weathered body , and he was struck by lightning . Joining his father after a lifetime of fighting , Hera finally welcomed him .
Arguably , Hercules ’ s life did end happily but his journey was difficult and dangerous . No amount of coaching or working out could have prepared him for the twelve tasks or the guilt he would feel as he felt the blood of his family on his hands . Disney presents the message that selfless acts redeem us and make us heroes and heroines , and perhaps , this is true of the actual story . After the murders , Hercules laid himself upon the Oracle at Delphi to atone for his sins and promised to submit to any punishment that King Eurystheus of Tiryns sought fit . He was selfless , willing to surrender to any task to redeem himself . Perhaps , this is what makes him worthy of being in a Disney movie .
Portrayals of Hercules
Lauren Robinson , Mariemont
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