Assessment Essay

Sylvia Lopez

English Literature 25

Professor Lennon

March 20, 2017

Assessment Essay

Why is Hercules considered an “archetypal hero?”

According to the Archetypes List Pre-AP English, archetypes are “recurring patterns (plot structures, symbols, character types, themes) that occur in mythology, religión, and stories across cultures and time periods.” They are a major part of helping people understand common traits that they share with other people apart from their individual culture. Archetypes also interpret situations  that “might be different from themselves otherwise.” The concept of an archetypal hero in literature is achieving goodness and struggle against evil to bring back harmony and justice to society. In the book, World Mythology the author, Rosenberg shares a short story called “The Labors and Death of Heracles” where we learn about who Heracles is. He was the most famous and popular of the Greek heroes. The myth of Hercules comes from the need to eternal fame. The text says, “the Lord of Olympus wanted to be certain that Hercules received eternal fame but at the same time wanted to please Hera. Later, Zeus made a promise to Zera that Heracles would have to complete whatever labors the King commanded.” After completing the twelve labors, he would reach immortality. In this short story, three characteristics that make Hercules an archetypal hero is that he is analytical, courageous, and also a risk-taker.  

An example in the text that allows us to identify Hercules as an analytical character is on page 101 of the book where the story introduces the first four labors. The first labor talks about how Eurystheus first commanded Hercules to bring him the skin of the lion of Nemea. In completing this labor, we see how Hercules thought about the strategies that he would have to take to be able to capture the lion. It mentions “the cave." Hercules knew that the cave had two exits. He then blocked one exit with a huge rock, and he then proceeded to enter through the other exit. He, therefore, trapped the lion and continued his plan on capturing it. A second example would be further on in the reading where we learn about the second labor. Here, Eurystheus commanded Heracles to kill Hydra of Lerna. We see that Heracles analyzed his strategy by capturing all the heads that started coming up. He did this with the help of his nephew. They put a log into a fire and created a white-hot brand. Through these strategies that Hercules used in these two labors, we can see how Hercules is analytical.

In addition, another characteristic that Hercules has that allows us to identify him as an archetypal hero is his courage. An example from the text that demonstrates this characteristic is on page 101-102. Here, we are introduced to the fourth labor. This labor involved “capturing Erymanthian boar and carrying it alive back to Tiryns.” The wild boar was extremely dangerous. He had sharp tusks and was fast. Regardless of how dangerous the wild boar was, Heracles had the courage and went on to complete the labor. He knew that things might have gone wrong, but he still continued to go on with his strategy. The text says, “He chased it up a mountainside into deep snow, where it could no longer run swiftly.” Hercules made the wild boar tired therefore he couldn’t run anymore, and Hercules quickly captured it. This example from the text shows how Hercules build up the courage to capture the dangerous wild boar despite the danger he knew he would have to face to complete this fourth labor. A second example from the text that shows this characteristic is on page 102 of the book. Here, we learn about Hercules sixth labor. Eurystheus commanded Hercules to chase the hordes of Stymphalian birds away from the lake of Arcadia. These birds were also dangerous. Despite how dangerous they were, Hercules continued to complete this labor. The story says, “He used a bronze rattle that made such a dreadful noise that it got the birds scared and made them fly away.” Through this labor, we see the courage that he had when he scared the birds away.

Furthermore, another characteristic that Hercules has that makes him an archetypal hero is that he is a risk-taker. According to the Archetype lists, what makes a hero is “...willing to risk life...” We can see that he is a risk-taker through the ninth labor which is on page 102. The ninth labor consisted of the Amazon Queen. The story says that “Eurystheus commanded him to bring the Amazon Queen, Hippolyte because his daughter wanted it.” Hercules was aware that the Amazons were extremely aggressive and were mean, yet he continued to complete this labor. He took the risk of confronting the aggressive women and getting the belt. As he got it, the women attacked him. He quickly assumed that Hippolyte betrayed him and he had no other option but to kill her. He got the belt and returned to Eurystheus. We see his characteristic in this example through the act of facing the women who would harm Hercules yet he took the risk and completed the labor. Hercules tenth labor also shows that he is a risk-taker. In this labor, Eurystheus “commanded Hercules to bring the beautiful cattle of the monstrous giant Geryon.” Geryon looked like he had a form of three men joined at the waist. We see how Hercules was a risk-taker in completing this labor because he faced the two-headed dog. He knew that he might get hurt and get attacked. Still, he took the risk of facing it and completing this labor.

In conclusion, an archetypal hero is made up of certain characteristics that allow he/she to demonstrate power, strength, and acts that show an act of heroism. According to the Archetype list, Archetypes are “recurring patterns (plot structures, symbols, character types, themes) that occur in mythology, religión, and stories across cultures and time periods.”  Archetypes help identify the hero in stories. They are an important factor in acts of heroism. In this story, Hercules was an archetypal hero based on his courage, analytical skills, and taking risks. He portrayed the idea of heroism and how being a hero includes certain characteristics that allow readers to understand what an archetypal hero is. The value of heroic archetypes in this contemporary era is important because it allows people to understand what an archetypal hero is made up of (characteristics) leading them to the final thought of heroism and what it means to be a hero.