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Mythology & Archetypes

Mylee M

Updated May 15, 2023

Transcript

Overcoming Obstacles In The Name of Love.

Intro

Archetypes are character types that reoccur in literature.

We will be analyzing archetypes and the psychological myth theory. These myths claim that they are based on human emotions and come from the human mind. For example, the need for good to overthrow evil or that humans must endure suffering in order to get a reward of some kind.

Myth #1

Greek Myth: Eros and Psyche

A king had a daughter named Psyche, whose beauty was so great that it surpassed Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Venus became jealous of the mortal. She called upon her son Eros, the god of love, to make Psyche fall in love with a terrible beast.

However, Eros ended up pricking himself with his arrow, falling deeply in love with the woman. With the help of Zephyr, the god of the west wind, she was carried away to Eros’s palace. She was given everything she could need, the only thing she couldn’t do was look at her husband’s face.

Eros & Psyche

Eros and Psyche

Eros & Psyche

When Psyche’s sisters visited her they aroused the suspicion of her new husband, and soon enough Psyche would betray Eros. Because of this betrayal, Eros left Psyche. The princess only had one way to get her husband back, which included her speaking to Aphrodite. Venus put Psyche through a series of impossible tasks that needed to be completed to get Eros back. With determination, Psyche completed several tasks, but the last one required her to go to the Underworld and fill a box with Persephone’s beauty. Once she obtains the box, she is told not to open it. Psyche rejects these orders and opens the box hoping to take some beauty for herself. But instead of beauty, there is only death. Eros felt something had happened to Psyche and went to search for her. He found her laying on the ground, and quickly put the death-like sleep back into the box. Reunited again, Eros went to ask Zeus to make their marriage official, which he does. Psyche is then made immortal, and becomes the goddess of the soul.

Archetypes

Eros and Psyche would be star-crossed lovers, which is a romantic pair destined to fail due to certain obstacles. Eros and Psyche overcame multiple obstacles, from Eros’s mother, to learning how to trust each other.

Venus could be an Evil Matriarch, which is a woman who acts as an evil force. Venus suits this role considering all the troubles she caused because of her jealousy.

Myth Theory

This myth is psychological because it teaches you that even if there are obstacles, as long as you stay determined you can achieve anything, this displays that being determined can reward you in the end.

Indian Myth: Savitri and Satyavan

Myth #2

Savitri & Satyavan

Savitri was the alluring daughter of a wealthy king. Savitri's beauty was known throughout the nation, but she denied anyone’s hand in marriage. She told her father that she would go search for a husband herself. She traveled for days till she came across a jungle where she met a young man chopping wood. His name was Satyavan and she was dead set on marrying him. Savitri went home to tell her father about Satyavan. Upon entering the kingdom, she found the king talking with Narada, the wisest messenger of the Gods. As Savitri told her father the news, Narada revealed that Satyavan only had one year to live.

She swore to the gods and her father that she would never marry another. After a simple wedding ceremony, the couple returned to the jungle. In a blink of an eye, a year passed. On their first anniversary, the sun grew hot. While Satyavan was cutting wood he fell unconscious, and Savitri had barely any time before her husband grew cold. Through her blurred vision, Savitri saw a figure in the distance. It was Yamraj, the God of Death, who had come to take Satyavan’s soul to the afterlife. Savitri, staying true to her promise, followed the god in the burning sun.

Eventually, the god turned and said he would grant her one wish as a prize for her determination, but she couldn’t ask for her husband’s life. Savitri wished to be the mother of many children, Yamraj agreed and told her to leave. The princess mentioned one last thing to him, how is she supposed to bear many children if she had not her husband? Yamraj knew he had been beaten, and finally let go of Satyavan’s soul. The two walked back to the jungle, united in a love that even death couldn’t destroy.

Archetypes &

Myth Theory

Archetypes & Myth Theory

This myth is psychological because it displays how dedication and sacrifice will be required to have true love.

Satyavan and Savitri are also star-crossed lovers, the two fated to fail, but Savitri doesn’t let anything stand in the way of their love, not even death.

Yamraj can be defined as a benevolent ruler/god, these types of characters are compassionate towards their people. We see this when Savitri doesn’t stop following Yama and soon after he grants her one wish because of her determination.

Narada can be displayed as a messenger, a character that is the bearer of news or truth, considering he is the messenger of the gods.

Conclusion

Archetypes allow us to have a better understanding of a story. For example, if it’s good versus evil or a damsel in distress, we will immediately have an idea as to what kind of story it is.

Psychological myths were made to help people understand the world. These stories represent and help explain our human emotions such as fear, love, sorrow, or even pleasure.

Conclusion

Work Cited

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