One of my favorite subjects to write about is the expectations we often put on the opposite sex and on romance. We all have these ideas of what a perfect mate would be and the characteristics that this person should have. Often these ideas are unrealistic. In the poem “A Mythical Man,” I explore this theme using mythology to reinforce the belief that the perfect man does not exist except in fantasy.
In the first stanza, I compare the perfect man with Theseus. In Greek mythology, Theseus was an Athenian hero who fought the Minotaur, a monster who was half-bull and half-human and lived in a maze on the island of Crete. Love-sick Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, helped Theseus to escape the labyrinth of the Minotaur by giving him a ball of string. Theseus defeated the Minotaur and Ariadne led him to a ship and they ran away together. I chose Theseus to represent the brave aspect of the perfect man. In the poem, I long for a man courageous like Theseus who will rescue me from a life without love.
In the second stanza, I compare the perfect man to Hercules who was notorious for his strength. Having a strong man to protect you is one of those things that women have been told that they need from a man. For some women, having a chiseled man with six-pack abs is what they look for when choosing a mate, and they do not bother looking beyond the superficial (but that is a topic for another day). In mythology, Hercules was the epitome of strength because he was the son of Zeus. His twelve labors were legendary and each of the labors demonstrated his strength, which made him a perfect candidate for “A Mythical Man.”
In the third stanza, I praise the intelligent man by comparing him with Plato. I used Plato in this poem even though he was a historical figure and not a mythical one. I used him because of his work on Symposium. In this dialogue, Plato explores the meaning of love, another favorite theme of mine. The speeches in the dialogue attempt to answer the question “what is love?” Some of the conclusions and speeches in Symposium are hilarious. Some of the answers are poignant and close to defining love, but it is Socrates’s speech that clinches the meaning. The speech I love the most is the one by Aristophanes. It’s a satire, but I can’t help but love the idea that I have a mate who shares my soul. I think it’s a romantic idea. To me, it explains that yearning we have to keep searching until we find that other part of our souls. The Symposium is a great piece of literature and well worth picking up.
In the final stanza, I compare the perfect man to Homer who is credited for composing two of the greatest epics in ancient history, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The language and imagery of the Iliad and the Odyssey transforms the story of the Trojan War and Odysseus’s journey back to Ithaca into a poetic epic that comes alive for the reader. When Homer describes the battles, you can almost hear the swords clash; and when Odysseus travels to Hades, you can imagine yourself there with him interviewing Agamemnon. Both epics are masterpieces of poetry, which is why I chose Homer as the example of a poetic man.
The perfect man for me would be brave, strong, intelligent, and poetic. He would rescue me from a life of loneliness and protect me from the world. He would be well-read, intelligent, and articulate. He would know the right thing to say and fill my life with beauty and poetry. I doubt that such a creature exists and not because I believe that men cannot possess such gifts, but because we are all fallible human beings. None of us are perfect. In choosing a mate, it would be a mistake to concentrate on perfection because that leads to disappointment.
You don’t have to have a deep understanding of Greek mythology to appreciate this poem, but it does help to grasp the subtle meanings conveyed in the poem. To learn more about Greek mythology, visit your local library and check out a book by Edith Wharton and/or Joseph Campbell. Some of the best stories written were penned by the ancient Greeks. They really understood the human experience.
To learn more about me and my writings visit my website. If there are any specific poems you want me to discuss, then drop me an email.
Happy reading!!
The book trailer to Expectations:
In the first stanza, I compare the perfect man with Theseus. In Greek mythology, Theseus was an Athenian hero who fought the Minotaur, a monster who was half-bull and half-human and lived in a maze on the island of Crete. Love-sick Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, helped Theseus to escape the labyrinth of the Minotaur by giving him a ball of string. Theseus defeated the Minotaur and Ariadne led him to a ship and they ran away together. I chose Theseus to represent the brave aspect of the perfect man. In the poem, I long for a man courageous like Theseus who will rescue me from a life without love.
In the second stanza, I compare the perfect man to Hercules who was notorious for his strength. Having a strong man to protect you is one of those things that women have been told that they need from a man. For some women, having a chiseled man with six-pack abs is what they look for when choosing a mate, and they do not bother looking beyond the superficial (but that is a topic for another day). In mythology, Hercules was the epitome of strength because he was the son of Zeus. His twelve labors were legendary and each of the labors demonstrated his strength, which made him a perfect candidate for “A Mythical Man.”
In the third stanza, I praise the intelligent man by comparing him with Plato. I used Plato in this poem even though he was a historical figure and not a mythical one. I used him because of his work on Symposium. In this dialogue, Plato explores the meaning of love, another favorite theme of mine. The speeches in the dialogue attempt to answer the question “what is love?” Some of the conclusions and speeches in Symposium are hilarious. Some of the answers are poignant and close to defining love, but it is Socrates’s speech that clinches the meaning. The speech I love the most is the one by Aristophanes. It’s a satire, but I can’t help but love the idea that I have a mate who shares my soul. I think it’s a romantic idea. To me, it explains that yearning we have to keep searching until we find that other part of our souls. The Symposium is a great piece of literature and well worth picking up.
In the final stanza, I compare the perfect man to Homer who is credited for composing two of the greatest epics in ancient history, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The language and imagery of the Iliad and the Odyssey transforms the story of the Trojan War and Odysseus’s journey back to Ithaca into a poetic epic that comes alive for the reader. When Homer describes the battles, you can almost hear the swords clash; and when Odysseus travels to Hades, you can imagine yourself there with him interviewing Agamemnon. Both epics are masterpieces of poetry, which is why I chose Homer as the example of a poetic man.
The perfect man for me would be brave, strong, intelligent, and poetic. He would rescue me from a life of loneliness and protect me from the world. He would be well-read, intelligent, and articulate. He would know the right thing to say and fill my life with beauty and poetry. I doubt that such a creature exists and not because I believe that men cannot possess such gifts, but because we are all fallible human beings. None of us are perfect. In choosing a mate, it would be a mistake to concentrate on perfection because that leads to disappointment.
You don’t have to have a deep understanding of Greek mythology to appreciate this poem, but it does help to grasp the subtle meanings conveyed in the poem. To learn more about Greek mythology, visit your local library and check out a book by Edith Wharton and/or Joseph Campbell. Some of the best stories written were penned by the ancient Greeks. They really understood the human experience.
To learn more about me and my writings visit my website. If there are any specific poems you want me to discuss, then drop me an email.
Happy reading!!
The book trailer to Expectations:
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