Classic Mythology

Ryan Obasuyi
991407491
November 14, 2016

Classic Mythology deals with various type of myths from all over the world. Today we will be
analyzing a couple of myths from the Greek Mythology and see how they relate to the novel

Things fall apart. In other to analyze these myths we will be looking at various themes, motif,
symbolism and archetypes and look for the coming one between these myths and the novel stated
above. Greek mythology from my own perspective laid out the foundation of storytelling and all
stories (book, movies and documentaries) follows these guidelines and that is why almost all of
these story today can be related to Greek mythology in one way or the other. The Greek myths
we will be looking at are; the Perseus myth, Semele and Phaeton myth. We will be looking
at the use of the theme of pride and jealousy and is used in the book Things fall apart compare
to how they are used in the Semeles myth. Next we will be looking at the Perseus myth and
how the theme of courage is used compare to how it is used in Things fall apart. Finally we
will look at how the theme of punishment and fate and how the animal archetype and the motif
of animal imagery is used in the Phaeton myth compare to how they are been used Things fall
apart.
In the Semele myth Hera is jealous of Semele because not only is she beautiful she is also
pregnant with Zeus child. And because Semele show too much pride in her beauty Hera sets out
to destroy her. Hera got her she when she morphed into an old lady and told Semele to ask for
Zeus to appear to her (Semele) in his god form. Semele not knowing the effects of seeing a god
in his god form took Heras advice and Zeus unknowingly made a promise he cannot break.
When Zeus appears to Semele is his god form she burst into flames and Zeus saves the baby.
Now we can see that because of Semeles pride and Hera jealousy Semele is destroyed.
When you look at the theme of Pride in Things fall apart when can see its presence after the
god tells Okonkwo that Ikemefuna should be sacrificed and that Okonkwo should not be
involved in the killing, Ikemefuna is tricked into thinking he is going back to his village and he
was happy to see his mother again. When he was led into the forest and after a couple hours of

walking he was attacked by Okonkwos clansmen and he calls to Okonkwo for help. Okonkwo
not wanting to show his true emotions for Ikemefuna nor to show to his clansmen that he is weak
took and his machete and killed Ikemefuna. By killing Ikemefuna, Okonkwo goes against the
order of the gods for him not to be involved in the death of the boy.
When we look at these two stories we can see that pride results in the destruction (death) of
innocent individuals.
Perseus pretty much like any other great hero is very brave. This is show throughout the
myth because no matter the amount of dangerous monsters in his path he keeps moving forward
and did not quit. Throughout the myth we was unstoppable and nothing could intimidate him
(from Gorgons to sea monsters and wicked kings).
When you look at Okonkwo in Thing fall apart he believed that in other to become a man you
need to be fearless and courageous and be able to do things others are scared to do. He was
ashamed of his father because he lacked desire and hunger to succeed and after his wife gave
birth and the kid was grown he was also ashamed of his some because he found him weak. This
is why he looked at Ikemefuna like his some because he had the balls to do what others are
scared off. Also Okonkwo won many battles because he was never afraid to fight nor was he
afraid to show people he isnt scared to carry out any other nor go against the words or the gods.
Now when we look at the theme of courage in both stories it leads these two men to great heights
others could only imagine and led to theme becoming heroes.
Finally let us look at the Phaetons myth, Phaeton was a half god (god father (sun god)
and mortal mother) he decided to go against his father and see if he can ride to chariot to the sun.
(Only a full god can ride the chariot). Phaeton took and chariot and decide to ride it to the sun

against his fathers wish. By doing this Phaeton almost destroyed the earth and he was stroke by
Zeus with a thunderbolt to prevent him from destroying the earth.
Now looking at the story things fall apart Okonkwo disobey the gods so many times but not
only killing his clansmen or burning down the church but by killing Ikemefuna. Which leads to
him been banished from the village from seven years and he finally committed suicide which is
also against the gods order. This leads to locust invading the village.
When we compare this two stories we know that when someone disobey the gods the fate is
death and by doing that their fate were determined and they were punished for their actions. The
used of animal imagery and animal symbolism is very present in both stories. Chariots are
usually used for war and by taking the chariot Phaeton declared war on earth. And when the
locust invaded the village in Things fall apart this means the village is about to go through many
years of starvation because the locust will consume the food crops leaving the people with
nothing to eat. Now we can see that the fate of disobeying the gods is punished by death wish is
very present in these stories.
In conclusion we can see that (By killing Ikemefuna, Okonkwo goes against the order of
the gods for him not to be involved in the death of the boy. Also with Hera partaking in the
destruction of Semele). We can see and conclude that in Semeles myth and in things fall
apart pride results in the destruction (death) of innocent individuals.
Also throughout the myth we was unstoppable and nothing could intimidate him (from Gorgons
to sea monsters and wicked kings). When you look at Okonkwo in Thing fall apart he believed
that in other to become a man you need to be fearless and courageous and be able to do things

others are scared to do. We look at the theme of courage in both stories we see that these two
men to great heights others could only imagine and led to them becoming heroes.
Finally, we found out that through Phaetons myth and in things fall apart, the fate of disobeying
the gods is punishable by death. Imagery was shown in both stories (chariots are usually used for
war and by taking the chariot Phaeton declared war on earth. And when the locust invaded the
village in Things fall apart this means the village is about to go through many years of starvation
because the locust will consume the food crops leaving the people with nothing to eat).