Disobedience In Phaharus And Icarus

The Greek myths, Phaethon and Daedalus and Icarus, have characters that exhibit pride as well as disobedience, which lead to their downfall, both figuratively and literally. Literary elements are used by the authors of both myths in order to describe and develop characters and events, and to teach a lesson. Through the use of characterization, imagery, and conflict, the mythical protagonists, Phaethon and Icarus, demonstrate a common theme that a prideful disregard of the warnings from those who are older and wiser is likely to lead to disastrous consequences. In both myths, the characters’ traits help to teach the theme. Phaethon would rather lie than lose an argument with his friend Epaphus, showing that he is prideful. When asked by Epaphus

In Phaethon, the image of the sun chariot’s horses shows that they are huge, uncontrollable and wild. The image is shown with a metaphor and vivid adjectives. On page 52 of Phaethon, Phaethon saw “giant fire - white horses being harnessed to the golden chariot. Huge they were… with golden manes and golden hooves and hot yellow eyes… their breath was flame.” The depiction of the horses shows that they are dangerous and uncontrollable. Consequently, the image foreshadows that Phaethon will not be able to control them and that his ride will yield devastating outcomes. This proves to be true because at one point, the horses gallop much too quickly, the earth is severely damaged and Phaethon is killed. Another example of imagery is the scene in which Icarus’ wings fall apart. Page 62 of Daedalus and Icarus states that “The wax softened. The wax trickled. The wax dripped. One feather came unstuck…” The vivid verbs and repetition enhance the details of the scene and serve to slow down the pace leading to the instant in which Icarus’ wings fall apart. This technique is used to increase tension for the reader, leading to a state of apprehension because of the sense of inevitability of Icarus’ fall from the sky. At this point, Icarus’ fate has already been decided, and no one can stop it. The wild, uncontrollable horses and molten wax show the reader that one will suffer dreadful results if an

Phaethon has many conflicts, one of which is himself against Earth, because he kills many people and destroys much of the earth before finally being killed by Zeus, king of the gods. Page 53 of the myth states that trees burst into flame and that people burned while running in a panic. Page 54 tells how every liquid on the earth froze, and described how people died from cold. The destruction caused by this conflict shows that the disastrous consequences caused by one’s pride do not only affect one. Phaethon did not think about his own safety when he decided to drive the chariot, much less the safety of others. His arrogance caused him to overlook the possible results of his actions. Another conflict is shown when Icarus can either listen to his father, Daedalus, or be overcome by pride in being the first boy to fly. He chose to disobey his father and fly close to the sun. Icarus is “so determined to outfly the sun” that he disobeys his father and flies too high, causing his own death. Based on the event in which the conflict takes place, Icarus is foolish for being in a dangerous situation and not listening to his experienced father. Obviously, the wax holding the wings together would melt with too much heat, but Icarus foolishly gets closer to the sun because of his pride. Pride causes conflicts and the outcome of giving in to pride has terrible effects not only for a