Hercules: Movie Versus Myth
Zachary Calderon
Wilson
Honors Introduction to Literature 2
17 January 2012
Hercules: Movie Versus Myth In Disney’s animated version of the classic mythology story, Hercules, they portray Hercules as a soft, klutzy, heroic superhuman. According to the classic Greek mythology story, Hercules saves peoples lives with his bravery and strength. Murder, tragedy, and bloody battles spread throughout the pages of Greek mythologies. It is obvious that the Disney version of the Hercules myth is not a correct one. Known for entertaining young movie-goers, Disney cannot provide a totally accurate portrayal of the real Hercules’s adventures, nor of Greek and Roman Mythology. Similarities and differences occur between the movie and the myth and takes place in the birth, life and death of Hercules. …show more content…
In the Disney movie, Zeus and Hera, the parents of Hercules, reign as king and queen of the Gods. Disney portrays Hera as Hercules mother, however, this is not true. He becomes a demigod when Pain and Panic try to kill him with a potion but Hercules does not drink the final drop. Hercules grows up on Earth as a mortal with his mortal parents. In the mythology version, Hera, the wife of Zeus, hates Hercules, a result of Zeus sleeping with Amphitryon’s spouse, Alcmene. Born from a mortal mother, therefore, makes Hercules a demigod. Hercules reminds Hera of her husband’s unfaithfulness and even goes so far as to send snakes to kill Hercules. This myth of affairs and revenge would appeal more to an older
Wilson
Honors Introduction to Literature 2
17 January 2012
Hercules: Movie Versus Myth In Disney’s animated version of the classic mythology story, Hercules, they portray Hercules as a soft, klutzy, heroic superhuman. According to the classic Greek mythology story, Hercules saves peoples lives with his bravery and strength. Murder, tragedy, and bloody battles spread throughout the pages of Greek mythologies. It is obvious that the Disney version of the Hercules myth is not a correct one. Known for entertaining young movie-goers, Disney cannot provide a totally accurate portrayal of the real Hercules’s adventures, nor of Greek and Roman Mythology. Similarities and differences occur between the movie and the myth and takes place in the birth, life and death of Hercules. …show more content…
In the Disney movie, Zeus and Hera, the parents of Hercules, reign as king and queen of the Gods. Disney portrays Hera as Hercules mother, however, this is not true. He becomes a demigod when Pain and Panic try to kill him with a potion but Hercules does not drink the final drop. Hercules grows up on Earth as a mortal with his mortal parents. In the mythology version, Hera, the wife of Zeus, hates Hercules, a result of Zeus sleeping with Amphitryon’s spouse, Alcmene. Born from a mortal mother, therefore, makes Hercules a demigod. Hercules reminds Hera of her husband’s unfaithfulness and even goes so far as to send snakes to kill Hercules. This myth of affairs and revenge would appeal more to an older