Week 36 - Myths & Grønland by Eva Pérez

Eva Pérez Abril

MYTHS AND GRØNLAND

 

First, a myth is a marvellous narrative starring gods, heroes, or fantastic characters, set outside historical time, which explains or gives meaning to certain events or phenomena. Myths are also part of the belief system of a people or culture. Myths answer questions such as who we are, where do we come from, where are we going, why are we here, and offer explanations traditionally accepted by the people.

 

A myth is a story its meaning is not contingent of being true or false. Myths appear to provide answers to what things and man are. We need myths because they are a way of explaining what surround us. The aim of myths is to provide an explanation of the meaning of life. Finally, myths are important because These myths show modern people a glimpse of how people thought in the past, what they considered important, how their morals worked, etc.

THE NARCISSUS MYTH

 

Narcissus, son of the god Cepheus and Liriope, was a very beautiful and attractive young man, who according to the great soothsayer Tiresias would live for many years if he did not see his reflection. The young man was envied by both men and women and was conscious of his attractiveness, to the point of being highly conceited and disdainful of the virtues and feelings of others, among whom were the nymph Echo and the young Aminius.

 

Aminius would give a sword, with which the rejected young man would kill himself. Shortly before his death, he prayed to the goddess of vengeance Nemesis asking that Narcissus would know unrequited love. 

 

One day, as he approached her to drink, Narcissus saw his reflection in the water of a pond and fell madly in love with him. Finally, trying to get closer to his beloved, Narcissus fell into the water and ended up drowning.

 

This myth warns us not to overestimate ourselves.

 

 

This myth could be worked into an excursion like the one we made to Grønland, since it is very easy to find a lake nearby to represent it as a theatre. The environment around us also can fit very well as a stage to tell this myth.