Week 2 Discussion Response

When reading the stories of great heroes, Gods/Goddesses, and monsters, the Greeks covered a multitude of themes. Like heroism, justice, and vengeance, these themes are seen over and over. But not unlike the concept of love. Being either part or the focus of a great number of Greek myths, the ancient Greeks must have considered this a powerful aspect of human life. It appears that the concept and power of love is so vast that it has affected not only humans but also the all-powerful beings described in these stories. The stories included in this week’s discussion covered several themes, from sacrifice to betrayal, as seen in how Medea was betrayed by her lover, Jason, despite her sacrificing her father and brother to aid him. Or how intertwined with love was jealousy, shown in Psyche’s sisters. “Their envious anger so worked in them that they came finally to plotting how to ruin her” (Hamilton 125). Nonetheless, love was so powerful that these stories depict Gods and Goddesses falling in love and showing compassion for mortals in love. This is seen when Alcyone “had been changed into a bird. The gods were kind” (Hamilton 146) Another thing of note, although it may not be a theme, is how love stories are used to explain things or events. For example, the once-white berries of the mulberry tree turned deep red, and “the death of two young lovers was the cause” (Hamilton 135). Another use of this is seen in the story of Ceyx and Alcyone, where the 7-day calm that occurs every year is due to Alcyone, who was turned into a bird, brooding over her nest until her young bird hatches.