Western Heroes Vs Cuchulain

Cuchulain vs. Popular Western Heroes Cuchulain of Murthemine shares many defining aspect with many other ancient hero-like figures in literature. A famous Irish war hero from the epic The Táin Bó Cuailnge, he shares many similar qualities of popular mythical heroes. Examples range from his godlike birth story to his incredible feats of battle. However, he is also is unique in that many of the elements that make him a hero differ from other classical champions such as Hercules or Odysseus. One illustration of this point is that Cuchulain earned his battle talents through a woman warrior goddess, Scáthatch, which is an uncommon element in the popular creation of a male hero. More importantly, his habit of changing personas and his ability
to physically transform are what makes Cuchulain of Murthemine a unique example of the mythological hero; nevertheless, he also shares a number of defining characteristics with other timeless champions.
Cuchulain has many attributes that relate to other mythological heroes, which is why the epic The Táin is considered a hero’s journey. Similar to many Greek mythological male champions for example, Cuchulain is extremely strong and battle savvy maing him ideal for war. One of the first warlike feats he accomplishes is when, at a very young age, he defeats the warrior goddess Aife. Even as his weapon is smashed he is able to use his knowledge to defeat her: “All she left him was a part of his sword no bigger than a fist. ‘Look! Oh, look!’ Cuchulain said. ‘Aife’s charioteer and her two horses and the chariot have fallen into the valley! They are all dead!’ Aife looked around and Cuchulain leaped at her…He threw her heavily to the ground and held a naked sword over her” (33). This also illustrates how his strength is comparable to even that of Hercules of Jupiter, as he accomplishes many of his earlier feats when he is younger than a teenager. An additional
parallel with common western heroic characters is Cuchulain’s birth story, which is always an important part of the hero’s tale. Relatable to the Christian figure, Jesus Christ of Bethlehem, Cuchulain’s father’s identity is skewed and relatively unknown. However, the defining correspondence between the two is that both of their birth mothers experienced, what is referenced in Christian literature as an, ‘Immaculate Conception’. In the case of Deichtine, she was lamenting the death of her foster son when she drank a small creature and had a dream, “She slept that night and dreamed a man came toward her and spoke to her, saying she would bear a child by him” (23). It was in this way that Cuchulain was born, paralleling the birth of Jesus and how his mother Mary has dreams of the Angel Gabriel. Cuchulain shares many direct parallels with other claasic figures throughout literature and yet he still remains very unique through his voyages in The Táin. Cuchulain’s ability to enter warp-spasm mode and the way in which he earns his talents is what makes him a distinctive hero.
Many popular western heroes only have one persona in which they are known by and do not change their entire character at will. Cuchulain is different in this respect however because in his normal state he is still able to perform incredible feats of battle, and yet when he makes this warp-spasm transformation, he is able to increase his already godlike powers. The transformation is also unique in itself as the changes that are described are unlike any other champion in mythological literature, “The Warp-Spasm overtook him: it seemed each hair was hammered into his head…he bared his jaws to the ear…The hero-halo rose up from the crown on his head” (77). Cuchulain’s Warp-spasms completely change his character both mentally and physichally as he becomes envolped in rage and his body becomes able to inflict damage a hundred times what it could probably inflict normally. The unbelievable strength that stems from this allows Cuchulain to perform things such as “his thunder feat, and he killed a hundred…then five hundred” (153). His ability to multiply his already hero-like powers is what truly sets him apart from other champions in popular hero
tales. In the pantheon of famous literary heroes, Cuchulain of Murthemine is unique in his transformations, but also has some defining hero characteristics such as a unique birth story and distinct feats of glory. Common male hero traits are prevalent in Cuchulain such as his incredible strength, which is comparable to Achilles in Homer’s Iliad in relation to their hero presence being able to turn the tide of a war. Conversely, the manner in which Cuchulain can increase his already incredible strength is unique as his warp-spasms allow him to reach unheard of levels of power, even when referencing the popular ancient heroes in literature.