Myths have several components embedded in them to allow them to deliver an underlying message. These components vary across religions and cultures, but there are several that remain constant.
Two components from the David and Goliath myth that we focused on were the notion that bigger is associated with being stronger and that there is often faith in a higher power that helps the hero achieve their task. We then reflected on how other religions also have similar narratives in their myths.
Size is a major telling factor about the power one holds. Often, people who are bulkier or animals who are larger are feared for the harm that they may cause to those that are smaller, and thus, weaker. In the myth, David and Goliath, Goliath being portrayed as a humungous beast and big in contrast to a small David adds to the element of Goliath being unbeatable and stronger than David.
An Underdog
This component of myth of supersized beings being seen as powerful is not new to the narratives of other religions. In the Buddhist Tanka painting, the massive creature named Yama is a protector and defender. His large appearance gives off an aggressive look and is shown to be powerful through his role as a protector. This component of the myth can also be seen in other religions such as Hinduism in the myth of Kumbhakarana, where although Kumbhakarana is the size of a mountain, dies after killing most of Lord Rama’s monkey army.
In modern day times, an example of this component is Hulk. Several people know of Hulk, a man who is feared and strong when he changes to his larger, muscular form. Since his body size makes him more aggressive and feared, the marvel character Hulk is an example of when a smaller human form is not feared but a larger and stronger form is feared and seen as aggressive and more powerful. For these superhuman creatures, their size is their biggest strength and they are often viewed as evil.
The Hulk Transformation
Further, this relates to the notion of an underdog that is often seen in Greek mythology. The underdog has to focus on their wits to win. For example, Perseus defeated Medusa, a three headed gorgon, Theseus defeated a Minotaur, and Ulysses defeated a Cyclops. Thus, this component from the myth is seen in other cultures as well.
The second component from the myth that my group discussed was of a higher power giving strength to the hero. In this case, God. David is only able to defeat Goliath by having faith in God and with God’s divine help. My group found an association with Indigenous mythology here. Although there was no battle, the Inuit people would worship the goddess Sedna and thus be rewarded for their faith in her with good fishing/hunting outcomes, through her divine help. My group related this component to the Hopi origin myth as well. In this myth, the original people had faith in their creator to keep walking until they reached the center place which, gave them the courage to do so until they reached it. This component can further be seen in the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice where Orpheus had to have faith that Hades would send his wife back to the land of the living. He did not have this faith and thus, lost his wife to Hades in the Underworld, showing that the courage to fight the bigger person, or achieve a task that seems unattainable, comes from faith in a higher power.
Orpheus and Eurydice
Martyrs are known for their strong faith in a higher power and seen as courageous people. In the David and Goliath myth, David did not mind being ridiculed by his own brother. This relates to martyrdom as martyrs continue to believe in their religion despite what others may say. My group mentioned that martyrdom in mythology then serves the purpose of telling people to maintain their faith no matter the circumstances.
Martyrs are told to abandon their beliefs or die. This relates perfectly to a real-world example of the Chinese concentration camps for Uyghur Muslims. Being contained in these camps for no reason other than the religion they choose to follow, these innocent people are being starved, tortured, raped, and brutally dehumanized. Forced against their religion, Chinese authorities are forcing them to drink alcohol and eat pork, and these injustices do not exclude innocent children. Forced to obey official demand to leave their religion or suffer, the people in these concentration camps are martyrs, that no one in power is helping even though three million people have been subject to torture in these camps. Perhaps because China is so big and powerful on the world market, the ‘smaller’ nations are afraid to speak out, relating back to how bigger is associated with being evil and stronger.
Chinese Concentration Camps
Child in Concentration Camps
This real world example then perfectly sums up this blog post and so I leave with a quote by Bob Kane that sheds light on the relevance of the example,
“It is difficult to separate, at times, the myth from the truth.”
References:
- “David vs Goliath? Can the Underdog Ever Win?” ProcessEye, 11 Apr. 2018, www.processeye.com/david-vs-goliath-can-underdog-ever-win/.
- “Hulk Transformation: Incredible Hulk, Hulk, Hulk Marvel.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.ca/pin/641974121852441461/.
- “The Myth.” Orpheus and Eurydice, chds-orpheusandeurydice.weebly.com/the-myth.html.
- Forth, Aidan. “The Horror of Concentration Camps in China.” The National Interest, The Center for the National Interest, 11 Feb. 2020, nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/horror-concentration-camps-china-121991.
- Kuo, Lily. “’If You Enter a Camp, You Never Come out’: inside China’s War on Islam.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 11 Jan. 2019, www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/11/if-you-enter-a-camp-you-never-come-out-inside-chinas-war-on-islam.
- Middleton, Lucy. “Inside China’s ‘Re-Education Camps’ Where Women Are Raped and Sterilised.” Metro, Metro.co.uk, 15 Nov. 2019, metro.co.uk/2019/10/08/inside-chinas-re-education-camps-women-raped-sterilised-10879874/.
- Samuel, Sigal. “China’s Crackdown on Muslims Is Being Felt beyond Its Borders.” Vox, Vox, 30 Mar. 2019, www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/3/30/18287532/china-uighur-muslims-internment-camps-turkey.
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