February 05, 2007

Hymn to Hermes:

The Mighty Argus-Killer

In this comedic hymn, Hermes establishes his identity as the god of trickery, among many other qualities. Born into the obscurity, Hermes sets out on the night of his birth to make a name for himself. In a single night, he creates music and fire, and later bests his brother Apollo in a battle of wits.

I noticed two root metaphors while reading this hymn. The first is the underdog story, where the hero overcomes a disadvantage to achieve their goals. Although Apollo is much stronger then Hermes, the younger sibling uses his wits to not only challenge Apollo, but to finally reach an agreement. Hermes uses his intellect in the same manner as his father when Zeus foiled his prophesized undoing. Apollo resorts to threats and violence, much like Cronus and Uranus against their children.

The second metaphor is revealed in Hermes departure from his home and the many things he accomplishes in his quest. By leaving the saftey of comfort of his mother, Hermes portrays the journey of all mortals from children to adults, albeit in a very rapid manner. Though his mother disapproves of his actions, and his choices create risks and dangers, he still manages to succeed and achieve renown.

Important Terms

Polytropic- Versatile
Sparogmos- Ritual death of a hero in tragedy or myth