Theme Of Love In Edith Hamilton's Mythology

Have you ever risked your life by completing unthinkable tasks for the one you love? Traveled to the most dangerous places on Earth in the hope of seeing your love’s face once more? Would you rather die than live without your soul mate? Many characters in Edith Hamilton’s, Mythology, put their lives in ultimate danger to be with their true loves. Through the stories of Pyramus and Thisbe, Cupid and Psyche, and Orpheus and Eurydice, it is shown that sometimes you must act with extreme behavior to be with your true love. A few lose their lives in the fight to keep their loved ones. The story, Procris and Cephalus, demonstrates that love can cause you to act differently to make sure that your true love is sincere. Some of these love-caused actions end in happily ever after, while others end in complete horror. When two people are in love, they will do anything, no matter how dangerous, to be together. As an illustration, the story of Pyramus and Thisbe shows the sacrifices a couple will make to be together. It paints the picture of an everlasting …show more content…
To have a strong relationship, there must be both individual and couple trust. In the story Procris and Cephalus, love caused Cephalus to behave differently to make sure Procris’ love for him was as strong as his for her. “[Cephalus] decided that he could never rest satisfied unless he proved to himself beyond all doubt that [Procris] loved him alone and would not yield to any other lover. Accordingly, he disguised himself” (Hamilton 400). Cephalus decided to disguise himself and try to get Procris to fall in love with him. Hamilton exclaims that Procris always responded “I belong to [Cephalus]. Wherever he is I keep my love for him” (401). Out of worry, love caused Cephalus to act in an extreme manner and doubt Procris’ love for him. His irrational behavior allowed him to assure Procris’ genuine