The last time Disney and Greco-Roman mythology met was with 1997 's horribly inaccurate, yet still charming Hercules. The film underperformed at the box office and was panned by Greek press. Disney and Greco-Roman mythology haven 't mixed since, probably at least partly because the dark subject matter of many Greco-Roman myths simply isn 't suited for a movie aimed at young children. However, many of the western fairy tales used as source material for Disney films share shocking similarities to classical myths. Like Pandora and her box, Snow White 's own curiosity lands her in a coma by means of poison apple, but while Pandora has to live with herself after releasing a whole gaggle of awful things unto man, Snow White is rescued by her
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In The Trojan War this concept is depicted early on when, given the choice of "power and riches"," glory and renown in war", or "the fairest of women for his wife", Paris goes with the third (48). By this instance, the myth is fairly explicit in exposing the value system of the average Greek male. Whether Paris 's choice is meant as satire of man 's hyper sexuality or just an observation of Greek culture is an entirely different discussion, but regardless the plot point establishes that physical beauty was kept to some esteem. Further, Helen, for how important a character she is in developing the plot of The Trojan War (after all, there would be no war without Helen) she is barely developed as a character beyond being "the fairest of her sex"(48). Helen is a trophy, an object of desire, a motivational tool for an army of men. Like a pin-up from 1940s America, Helen epitomizes feminine desirability. How does she do that? She 's beautiful. Therefore, what is the ideal Greek woman? Physically pretty. Similarly, the character of Briar Rose is almost always referred to as the "beautiful Briar Rose" (236, 238), and her appearance serves as the primary motivation for all of her would be suitors (236). Like Helen, men give their lives trying to rescue Briar Rose because she 's beautiful. The lack of character …show more content…
The apple of discord is thrown by Eris, spiteful at not being invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (48), while Briar Rose is cursed by the wise women who "had not been invited, and now wanted her revenge," (235). Both pieces use plot to suggest the importance Xenia (the Greek concept of proper guest-host relations) and respect towards one 's betters, within their respective first few paragraphs. The placement of the events from a chronological standpoint, as first and therefore foremost, further implies the importance of the concept. The cultural ideal of proper etiquette is continually expressed in The Trojan War by the interactions between mortals and immortals such as when "Agamemnon in hunting killed a stag which was sacred to Diana, and the goddess in return visited the army with pestilence," (48), and when Apollo "sent pestilence into the Grecian camp,"(50) because Agamemnon refuses to return the daughter of one of Apollo 's priests. Both instances suggest that that disaster within Greco-Roman society was perceived as directly resulting from human disrespect towards the Gods. Therefore, while Briar Rose as a cautionary tale teaching children to be respectful suggests that politeness and etiquette were valued in medieval Europe, The Trojan War exposes that etiquette was a staple
In The Trojan War this concept is depicted early on when, given the choice of "power and riches"," glory and renown in war", or "the fairest of women for his wife", Paris goes with the third (48). By this instance, the myth is fairly explicit in exposing the value system of the average Greek male. Whether Paris 's choice is meant as satire of man 's hyper sexuality or just an observation of Greek culture is an entirely different discussion, but regardless the plot point establishes that physical beauty was kept to some esteem. Further, Helen, for how important a character she is in developing the plot of The Trojan War (after all, there would be no war without Helen) she is barely developed as a character beyond being "the fairest of her sex"(48). Helen is a trophy, an object of desire, a motivational tool for an army of men. Like a pin-up from 1940s America, Helen epitomizes feminine desirability. How does she do that? She 's beautiful. Therefore, what is the ideal Greek woman? Physically pretty. Similarly, the character of Briar Rose is almost always referred to as the "beautiful Briar Rose" (236, 238), and her appearance serves as the primary motivation for all of her would be suitors (236). Like Helen, men give their lives trying to rescue Briar Rose because she 's beautiful. The lack of character …show more content…
The apple of discord is thrown by Eris, spiteful at not being invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (48), while Briar Rose is cursed by the wise women who "had not been invited, and now wanted her revenge," (235). Both pieces use plot to suggest the importance Xenia (the Greek concept of proper guest-host relations) and respect towards one 's betters, within their respective first few paragraphs. The placement of the events from a chronological standpoint, as first and therefore foremost, further implies the importance of the concept. The cultural ideal of proper etiquette is continually expressed in The Trojan War by the interactions between mortals and immortals such as when "Agamemnon in hunting killed a stag which was sacred to Diana, and the goddess in return visited the army with pestilence," (48), and when Apollo "sent pestilence into the Grecian camp,"(50) because Agamemnon refuses to return the daughter of one of Apollo 's priests. Both instances suggest that that disaster within Greco-Roman society was perceived as directly resulting from human disrespect towards the Gods. Therefore, while Briar Rose as a cautionary tale teaching children to be respectful suggests that politeness and etiquette were valued in medieval Europe, The Trojan War exposes that etiquette was a staple