How troubles came into the world

Summary

Summary

This myth is about Epimetheus and his brother Prometheus. After they stole fire from the Gods for man, Prometheus decided to go on a journey. Before he left he warned Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from the Gods. After he left Epimetheus was offered a gift from Mercury, a young lady named Pandora. “Pandora had such a lovely face that Epimetheus paid no heed to the warning of Prometheus”(2). He also received a box from the Gods, one that he was instructed not to open. One day when Pandora was alone she opened the box. Out came all the bad things in the world, called troubles. After the troubles were loose the people started to experience things like death, famine, and sickness. The last thing to come out of the box was hope, she flew around righting the wrongs of the troubles. “So this is way that troubles came into the world, but we must not forget that hope came with them”(4).

Argumentative Paragraph 1

Argumentative Paragraph 1

“How Troubles Came Into the World” is a myth because it answers the question why and follows two patterns. The myth answers the question why do we have bad things in our world like death, sickness and war. The patterns it follows are females and creation. Females because the Gods gave Epimetheus Pandora to get back at Prometheus and Epimetheus for stealing fire for man. Prometheus warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from the gods but “Pandora had such a lovely face that Epimetheus could not help believing that the Gods sent her to him in good faith. So he paid no heed to the warning of Prometheus.”(2). The myth is also a creation story, when Pandora opened the box “Out rushed a great swarm of little winged creatures”(3) that was how all the bad in the world was created. Therefore “How Troubles Came Into the world” is a myth because it answers the question why, has females, and is a creation story.

Argumentative Paragraph 2

They myth explained how all the bad things came into the world. The Myth explained the troubles “Little winged Creatures”(3) by using nature (Insects). In myths females are either good or bad. I think Pandora is bad because not only was she used to trick Epimetheus, she also let all the troubles into the world. Before Pandora opened the box “everyone was good and happy. It was always spring; the earth was covered with flowers, and only gentle winds blew to set flowers dancing”. Then when Pandora opened the box and the troublous flew out “they soon flew about and spread themselves everywhere, pinching and stinging whenever they got the chance”(3). The myth is explaining to us the reason the world has wars, famine, sickness, and death.

Argumentative Paragraph 3

“How Troubles Came into the World” reflects the beliefs of the Roman culture. The myth talks about “The Golden Age”(1), which was when Rome was very successful from the five good emperors Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. This Myth is also very close to the Greek mythology story “Pandora's Box” that follows the same story line but, has the Greek God Zeus instead. The story has two Gods in it. Jupiter “After stealing fire for man, Prometheus, knowing Jupiter would be angry decided to go away for a time on a distant journey”(1) and Mercury “Mercury came to the cottage of Epimetheus, leading by the hand a young beautiful woman, whose name was Pandora”(2). Those Gods are both from Roman beliefs. Therefore we can conclude that the myth is from Roman beliefs.

Patterns in this myth

This myth has multiple patterns in it; like natural elements, creation, and females.

Patterns in this myth