Why do teenagers seem to like to tell endless scary stories? Who has not heard the one about a couple in a parked car who hear a scratching on the car roof? These are examples of the retelling and updating of folk tales. The modern version incorporated commonplace snippets of modern life. In another era it might have been a tale of bloody pirates or of witches. Modern movies and TV have these updated tales but also retell ancient myths like that of Hercules, Odysseus, etc. The retelling of myth is quite respectable. It is obvious that even revered writers like Shakespeare recycled a lot. In science fiction, there is a sub-genre called space opera though whether it is more like grand opera or soap opera varies from piece to piece. Psychology has an offshoot that fits into the mythos genre loosely: New Age. (People seem to either love or hate New Age with little in between.)
It seems we still have a need for myth. As long as people dream, love and feel, they need to connect and articulate what is inside in some sort of story form.
So why does the more ancient myth have to be modernized? Why not pull out all the stops and look at one of the oldest pieces of writing in existence: the Epic of Gilgamesh. The complete text in translation is available from several web sites. Google it. The translation I'm using is by Maureen Gallery Kovacs and is from the Mesopotamian Text Archive.
Gilgamesh is the ancient king of Summer and is part god and part human. He is described as:
Supreme over other kings, lordly in appearance, He is the hero, born of Uruk, the goring wild bull. He walks our in front, the leader, And walks at the rear, trusted by his companions. Mighty net, protector of his people, Raging flood-wave who destroys even walls of stone!
However, all is not well in the city of Uruk. As king, Gilgamesh has the right to sleep with any new bride before her husband. He is exercising this right and people are not happy. They appeal to the gods for help. The goddess Aruru responds by creating Enkidu, a wild man, to teach Gilgamesh a lesson.
He knew neither people nor settled living, But wore a garment like Sumukan. He ate grasses with the gazelles, And jostled at the watering hole with the animals;
The area trappers see Enkidu as powerful and threatening. They send word to Gilgamesh their king. Gilgamesh sends a harlot to seduce Enkidu. Enkidu is seduced. Without his innocence, the animals shun him. Enkidu is being tamed.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Marilyn Graves's Psychology & Fiction topic, please visit the Discussions page.