The stupidity of Greek heroes

[lesbiassparrow]

People often think of Greek heroes as quite intelligent folk because of Odysseus;* this is, I feel, a mistake. On average I would say that most of them would probably be outwitted by small puddle of water. (This is true of Oedipus for all his riddle solving: right, so you know you're destined to kill your mum, but you marry a woman of about the right age whose husband has recently died without asking questions? You, sir, are as dumb as a pile of rocks. And Oedipus is at the upper end for heroic intelligence; most of them just relied on stabbing things a lot and hoping that worked.) This may be Clash of the Titans one faithfulness to Greek myth: Perseus is quite wonderfully thick about so many things and is clearly determined that his stupidity will get many people killed.* Clearly he takes after his dad, Zeus, who is also not v. bright and probably forgets about ruling the universe on a regular basis when distracted by his shiny armour.

*Sometimes I feel O's reputation for high intelligence is unwarranted. He does make some terrifically stupid decisions in the Odyssey.

*Most people in Greek myth died horribly because of stupid actions of heroes, so that's about right.

In conclusion: RELEASE THE KRACKEN AND EASE YOUR STORM.

ETA: Also, people who get upset that Clash of the Titans messes with Greek mythology, clearly have no idea how much the Greeks messed with that themselves. Just reading Apollodorus' Library of Greek Mythology makes you realize that they could simultaneously have 5 different variants of the same myth. This is the culture that had a sequel to the Odyssey where Odysseus is killed by his son by Circe, who then promptly married Penelope and brings her + Telemachus back to Circe's island where she then married Telemachus and made them all immortal. That had people who believed Zeus was dead and were willing to show you his tomb. Compared to the Greek imagination, the one that came up with RELEASING THE KRACKEN is a pathetic and feeble thing.

Comments

[chelseagirl47.livejournal.com]

One semester when I was teaching a classics course as part of the humanities core, I had a student convinced *I* was dumb as a pile of rocks because I, W. B. Yeats, and the editors of the Norton Anthology of English Literature were obviously WRONG, WRONG, WRONG because we told a different version than Edith Hamilton, who was for him the only one true source. He took it out on me for the rest of the semester, trying to trip me. I brought in Graves to show him how myths vary. He still didn't believe me.

Odysseus is wily because we are told so. Repeatedly. Say it often enough and you will believe it, despite external evidence.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I've had students have many issues with the fact that the Greeks don't really care if you adhere to one myth or another and don't have anything even close to a bible - but never one quite as determined as yours. I guess at least he put you in some august company, though.

[chelseagirl47.livejournal.com]

This kid was a piece of work; three years later he wrote something in the student paper about how professors should not teach things they were not passionate about. I was assured(by other faculty who'd dealt with him subsequently) he was far from meaning only me, but I'm sure I was one of several or many he was thinking about . . .

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

If only taught things I was passionate about it would be a pretty small list. Most of what you end up with it are service courses: I try to do my best to look and sound enthused, but I can tell you talking about battle tactics of Roman armies is not exactly something I look forward to.*

The student probably spent most of his academic career in a permanent state of disappointment that everyone didn't believe in Hamilton.

*I do, however, always enjoy my 'Why I think Socrates was a total wanker' lecture.

[chelseagirl47.livejournal.com]

Luckily he was in the Art school, but . . . yeah.

At this particular moment, I'm teaching political philosophy as part of a general humanities course so . . . the passion is sorely lacking. Luckily, if they start to doubt me on that end, I throw my law degree at them and they back off . . .

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

The sad thing is that I often think the courses where I am not invested/actually know very little about are often my better courses because I keep them simpler and wander off topic less. Or at least frequently my student evaluations in my 'I am teaching this because I have to' courses are often higher. A bit depressing really.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am enjoying your posts about "The Clash of Titans". : DMy knowledge of the Greek mythology is limited by "Greek legends" book I have read long time ago, but I still remember that Perseus and Andromeda were supposed to hook up. I was ever so disappointed.but I liked the Kracken and his teeth

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

As this will apparently be a trilogy (oh wondrous moment when I found that out!) Perseus still has time to get it going with Andromeda. After all, I don't think Io was all that keen on him in that way so maybe after Zeus restored her she'd be off leaving him all forlorn and in need of comfort?

[wistfulmemory.livejournal.com]

I wish I could take your Greek Myths class. I think it would be awesome, and I know I would learn so much.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I wish I could claim to be teaching things that you couldn't just get from a thumbing through Greek myth texts books... :p But I do enjoy horrifying people with some of the more horrible stories most of when end badly for everyone and then some...

[nyssa23.livejournal.com]

I endorse this post and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

And Oedipus is at the upper end for heroic intelligence; most of them just relied on stabbing things a lot and hoping that worked.

Ahahahaha! Yes, this.

P.S. I was surprised to find out that the Kraken is actually from Norse myth. boooo.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

The kraken made me so happy. I want it back so it can fight the scorpions. In a film of this calibre who are we to quibble at the petty boundaries of mythical traditions? :)