Theories in mythology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Theories in mythology - Essay Example All mythic heroes are invariably ethical and moral. Most of the stories depict his hardship and travails in pursuit of a morally acceptable equilibrium. His persistence in the face of adversity and his dedication to his convictions are the other hallmarks of a mythic hero. But most importantly, irrespective of the human or super-human quality of the Hero, the mythology surrounding him is constructed to enlighten people on appropriate behavior and give them a sense of direction during phases of ambiguity. During the times of its conception and application, mythologies were intricately woven into the fabric of society. It is to be noted that for primitive people mythologies were the predominant source of information and entertainment. Hence, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the theoretical and practical sides of these stories. In the context of this uncertainty, it is inevitable that various and often conflicting interpretations of the meaning and significance of mythologies are formed. So no particular interpretation is universally acceptable. This leads to definitions that are only valid within a certain social and cultural unit of organization. At the time of its origins, human societies were largely feudalistic and paternalistic. This reality is also reflected in much of the literature of these times, which were again component parts that comprise the mythology. Every social order has had its ruling class. And mythologies were frequently employed as a means of keeping the status quo. Hence, the nobility, which is generally assigned the task of creating much of the mythology, did not adhere to principles of good scholarship. They were given a free hand to twist and tweak the tales to suit the ruling interests. This makes futile all attempts to arrive at a generally agreed definition for Mythology. Dardel assertion that myths are neither true nor false can be explained the following way. Many mythologies are