Yet Do I Marvel Myths

The Myths of My Life A myth is a narrative the embodies and sometimes helps explain the religious, philosophical, moral, and political values of a culture, (610). The poem, “Yet Do I Marvel” is myth about angering the Greek gods and the toils and tribulations they make you face to seek redemption to gain their favor. Myths are relevant to today’s society because they give represent what the society feels morally, politically, religiously, and philosophically. “Yet Do I Marvel” was written almost a hundred years ago but can be generalized into today’s society by all that we face. When anyone angers any god we have to face the consequences of our actions. That can be seen throughout the bible. When the Jews angered God at the time of Exodus for being unfaithful they were doomed to spend 40 years traveling the wilderness. In the poem “Yet do I Marvel” Tantalus and Sisyphus are doom to suffer in Hades for eternity. “Make plain the reason tortured Tantalus Is baited by the fickle fruit, declare, If merely brute caprice dooms Sisyphus To struggle up a never-ending stair,”(611). These two figures in this poem are forever suffering for
crimes that they committed. It can be said in today’s society the Jewish people are forever suffering for crimes many generations before. Israel has not been at peace since it was made a country. This could be seen as far back as Exodus. For philosophical and moral issues that are seen in today’s society the biggest issue is same-sex marriage.
Many people who believe in the bible say that marriage is only for a man and a woman. Other people believe that people are entitled to be able to marry to whoever they want to and have the right to be happy. There has been court case that have been in support of same-sex marriage and other cases have been against same sex marriage. “With petty cares to slightly understand What awful brain compels His awful hand,” (611). The speaker in the poem cannot have what he wants. In this case it is the same-sex marriage. Many people feel that you are going against what God wants because the bible says homosexuality is a sin. Marriage is for a man and woman. Society will continue to fight for what they believe is right and what they
want. Since this is a presidential election year politics and is the forefront of our society. The republicans and the democrats are fighting to make their constituents happy. Democrats want to provide for the poor and disenfranchised. Republicans want to focus on down-home values. People are at odds with our political system because they feel that no one is hearing them out. There is too much bi-partisan fighting. “Yet do I marvel at this curious thing: To make a pet black, and bid him sing’”(611). In this case the political representatives are not listening to what we the people want. The speaker of the play is a well-meaning God... and society is not listening to his voice, (612). The well meaning God is our representatives. They want to help society and make it better. But there is so much fighting they are not hearing what the society wants. People are so concerned with their own agenda that the pleas of the people fall on deaf ears. The generalizations of today’s society can be seen in any myth written at anytime. People will always be able to use myth as a way to interpret what is wrong in today’s society. Religious values are always at the forefront of our society’s value system. God and the bible shape the way that we think and what we view. The gods are punishing wrongdoers in the poem, “Yet Do I Marvel”. In today’s society people believe that God is punishing people for past sins that they have committed. As for Philosophical and moral values of today’s society, the bible and popular culture will always determine what is right and wrong. “Myths attempt to explain phenomena that human beings care about,” (610). One thing that our society cares about is being morally and philosophically correct. You see that in the protests over same-sex marriage everyday. In the poem “Yet Do I Marvel” the wrongdoers were not listening to what God had to say. They were being punished. Today society feels that are God and ur politicians are the wrongdoers not listening to us. You see it every time there is a political rally. No one is listening to anyone. That has been seen throughout time. History always seems to repeat itself