Reality in Myth

Reality in Myth

Abhirami Sankaran

2/3/2023

One topic we covered in class was the idea that myths speak of a truth beyond the facts. I find this idea both strange yet natural. That which we proclaim mythic is not truly about dragons or witches but rather people being people. The mistakes we make and the consequences, the love we forge and its fruits. When I consume myths I find them fascinating, I think this is rather evident in my numerous entries about the Greco-Roman pantheon. They are emotions personified. They take the real and weave it through the fantastical so that we can create distance from the characters, yet still understand them. This allows us to reflect on our actions. Jason died because he forsook Medea, though we are unlikely to be struck dead for unfaithfulness, we can reflect on his actions and learn. We understand that breaking vows can lead to disaster. We may never be stranded away from home like Odysseus but we can understand how trauma can often moor us in unfamiliar land. It is comforting to be understood in tales that allow us to transcend the “real” world.

To say that myths speak to truth is such a clear way of simplifying narrative analysis that I find it captivating. It allows me to see the stories which I consume through a clearer light. 

So I wonder, what is the truth behind the stories we tell now?

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