The King Must Die- Hero
AP Literature and Composition
December 2nd, 2013 The King Must Die: Hero Analysis Theseus as depicted in Mary Renault’s modern adaptation of Greek myth The King Must Die is the epitome of a Greek hero of time immemorial, and would be proclaimed a hero even today despite his flaws. Many of the reasons that he was a hero to the Greeks is part of what makes him a hero to modern day society; he has a strong sense of moral right and cannot stand for injustice thus striving to change it wherever he finds it. He is also strong, clever, and a man of the people. Yet it is not his physical aspects of strength, nor mental prowess or cunning that make him a hero by modern standards, instead it is his flaws that make him a true hero. A contemporary hero is a man of the people, one who stands beside his fellow men in times of strife. Theseus is a hero to his people who suffer under the heel of oppression and unfairness. He is compelled to put his hand to whatever injustice he finds, and eradicate it, often at the expense of long held traditions. One of the first significant acts of his, is when he changed the means of choosing the new King of Eleusis. The kingdom of Eleusis had had a long standing tradition of having the king of the previous year killed in single combat; and having the victor claim the throne, all in honor of the patron goddess. Theseus sees the injustice of this after killing after killing Kerkyon the previous king, and ascending to the throne himself. After serving a year as the King; and making major changes within his rule, he finally abolishes this practice after the death of the Queen in his final words to her, “Though I shall change the sacrifice, I will never root out the Mother’s worship here” (King 145). After meeting his father Aigeus, King of Athens, he learns of an upstart group known as the Pallantids. After hearing of their evil deeds and plans his sense of honor compels him
December 2nd, 2013 The King Must Die: Hero Analysis Theseus as depicted in Mary Renault’s modern adaptation of Greek myth The King Must Die is the epitome of a Greek hero of time immemorial, and would be proclaimed a hero even today despite his flaws. Many of the reasons that he was a hero to the Greeks is part of what makes him a hero to modern day society; he has a strong sense of moral right and cannot stand for injustice thus striving to change it wherever he finds it. He is also strong, clever, and a man of the people. Yet it is not his physical aspects of strength, nor mental prowess or cunning that make him a hero by modern standards, instead it is his flaws that make him a true hero. A contemporary hero is a man of the people, one who stands beside his fellow men in times of strife. Theseus is a hero to his people who suffer under the heel of oppression and unfairness. He is compelled to put his hand to whatever injustice he finds, and eradicate it, often at the expense of long held traditions. One of the first significant acts of his, is when he changed the means of choosing the new King of Eleusis. The kingdom of Eleusis had had a long standing tradition of having the king of the previous year killed in single combat; and having the victor claim the throne, all in honor of the patron goddess. Theseus sees the injustice of this after killing after killing Kerkyon the previous king, and ascending to the throne himself. After serving a year as the King; and making major changes within his rule, he finally abolishes this practice after the death of the Queen in his final words to her, “Though I shall change the sacrifice, I will never root out the Mother’s worship here” (King 145). After meeting his father Aigeus, King of Athens, he learns of an upstart group known as the Pallantids. After hearing of their evil deeds and plans his sense of honor compels him
Cited: Renault, M. (1988). The King Must Die. New York: Vintage Books.