Perseus Archetype

An archetype is an original template of something, from which other things of the same nature are based. There are many types of archetypal characters, and one type is the archetypal hero. The heroes in Greek mythology have seven rules to follow to be thought of as true heroes. The most interesting guideline is that a hero must return to face a father figure, which involves some kind of retribution. Three important hero stories in Greek culture, the Perseus, Theseus, and Hercules myths, all include examples of this atonement. While Hercules, Theseus, and Perseus each exhibit different personalities, they also contrast in the ways they confront their father figures. Perseus, on his journey to kill Medusa, tricked the Grey women and returned to kill Polydectes. Polydectes was in love with Perseus’s mother Danae, and he wanted Perseus gone. In trying to kill him, he said that he wanted the head of Medusa for a wedding present, and Perseus decided to go get it

Seven youths and seven maidens from Athens were sent as tributes every nine years into the labyrinth, to be killed by the Minotaur, because King Minos’s son had died due to king Aegeus sending him on a deadly quest (Hamilton 239). Theseus volunteered as tribute, but unknown to everyone, he planned to kill the Minotaur. When he got in the maze, he killed the sleeping Minotaur with his bare hands (Hamilton 241). This was him getting vengeance on Minos for sacrificing the maidens and youths to the Minotaur. Him killing the Minotaur was also out of compassion for the people of Athens, who were afraid of being sacrificed. Another notable instance of Theseus caring about others was after Hercules had killed his wife and kids. He comforted him and saved him from killing himself out of guilt (Hamilton 259). At his essence, Theseus cared so much for others that he put himself in danger to help