Greek myths can be seen as thought experiments – ways of analyzing human existence and human behaviour. Choose one myth and explain what kind of relationship crisis is examined in the story. Analyze the story in terms of human behaviour and the relationships between mortals and immortals.
One myth that examines a relationship crisis is the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. In this myth, Orpheus is a mortal musician who falls in love with Eurydice, a nymph. When Eurydice is killed by a snakebite, Orpheus is so grief-stricken that he travels to the underworld to try to bring her back. He is successful in convincing Hades and Persephone to allow Eurydice to return to the world of the living, but on one condition: Orpheus must not look back at her until they have both reached the surface. Unfortunately, Orpheus fails to keep his promise and looks back, causing Eurydice to be taken back to the underworld.
This myth examines the relationship crisis of trust and loyalty. Orpheus and Eurydice's love is so strong that Orpheus is willing to risk his life to bring her back from the underworld. However, his failure to keep his promise and look back at her shows that he does not fully trust her to make it back to the surface. This lack of trust ultimately leads to the failure of their relationship.
The myth also examines the relationship between mortals and immortals. Orpheus is a mortal, and his love for Eurydice is so strong that he is willing to risk his life to bring her back from the underworld. This shows the power of love between mortals and immortals, and how it can transcend even the boundaries of death. However, Orpheus' failure to keep his promise also shows the limitations of mortal power in the face of the gods. Despite his best efforts, Orpheus is unable to save Eurydice from the underworld, and his failure serves as a reminder of the power of the gods over mortals.