Compare and Contrast Essay on Mythological Gods: Hermes and Eshu

Introduction

When we think of tricksters, we often imagine culture heroes and folk characters and not gods. In most cases, tricksters are often associated with animal spirits (like Coyote) or are regarded as archetypal "humans," Promethean figures who interact with and cause distress in the world of gods. For many centuries, people of all civilizations have believed in all kinds of gods. These gods were different in so many ways but also very similar at the same time. Hermes, a Greek god, and Elegba, a West African deity are excellent examples of how mythological gods would use deception, cunningness, thievery, and manipulation to achieve positive ends.

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Hermes cunningness is first witnessed when he meets a tortoise while getting out of their high-rooted cave. This was out of sheer luck that not only perplexed Hermes but gave him resounding joy. Hermes had previously made the tortoise a singer before coming across it. It was at this time where he said that his encounter with the tortoise was a sign of good luck stating, "An omen of great luck for me so soon! I do not slight it. Hail comrade of the feast, lovely in shape, sounding at the dance. But I will take and carry you within you shall help me, and I will do you no disgrace though first of all, you must profit me" (White). Though Hermes makes promises to the tortoise, he sees the encounter as an opportunity to profit himself. Therefore Hermes went ahead and cut the limbs of the tortoise and took its shell and made a garment with disregard to the mountain-tortoise despite the praises he had given it. Furthermore, to Hermes, the encounter with the animal was a good omen since he had up his sleeves a plan to steal cattle which he quickly pursued upon making the garment out of tortoises shell and sheep gut. Hermes while skillfully making the tortoise-shell garment singing praises to his parents Zeus, the son of Cronos and his mother Maia his heart was filled with trickery in his heart since he longed the taste of flesh of the cattle which he would soon raid and steal.

When Hermes was trudging through the mountains of Pieria, he came across divine cattle that belonged to Apollo. The cattle had been grazing in unknown meadows where he went ahead and cut off from the herd a total of fifty cows, being witty he quickly reversed the hoofs of the cows making the front behind and the hind of the cows that would make the cows hoof prints to look as if they were heading to the meadows. This shows Hermes's cleverness and trickery. Furthermore, he waved his sandals with wicker-work together with tamarisk and myrtle-twigs. While hurrying down with his loot of the night, he came across an old man who was attending to his vineyards. Hermes with firmness and trickery promised the old man that if he keeps silence of what he had seen, then he shall harvest and make so much wine as the vineyards will have so many fruits.

One also witnesses Hermes's trickery when he gets to make to the high-roof cave; he thinks no one had noticed what he had done however his mother Maia had noticed that his son had been up to no good. She states, "How now you rogue! Whence come back at night wearing shamelessness as a garment". This shows by Maia referring to his son a rogue he knew the traits of his son and that he had been up to no good. Hermes manages to convince his mother craftily that he is a fearful and feeble child only trying to fend for himself. When Apollo enquires from the old man and finds out that the thief is Hermes he confronts him and takes him to other gods and for Zeus to give a verdict concerning the divine cattle that had been stolen by Hermes. Upon Hermes being afforded the opportunity to answer to the allegations he wittingly stated that he neither knew where the cows were nor did he win the reward for knowing where the cows were something that made Zeus laugh as he knew his son was lying. Upon judgment being delivered Apollo followed Hermes and got the cattle however he gave fifty of them to Hermes upon being baffled by Hermes singing. Their friendship thrived, and Hermes gave the oath to obey Apollo, and in return, he was made a messenger to the gods and became the god of trade.

For Elegua or Eshu, a story is told that he one day donned a red and white hat and being the god of crossroads and traveled to a crossroad where two friends were walking. The two friends were baffled and left in awe by the mysterious man went ahead conversed, one man stated, "It was a fine white hat that he wore, "The other man stated, "No, you are mistaken, I saw it it was brilliant red" (Sutton). What ensued between the two men was a fight after one got agitated thinking that the other was inferring that he was a liar. Eshu being a master of trickery does not show his trickery but showing his other side, he had already been the center of attention and was the main cause of the dispute. He challenges the aggravated parties that they should be tackling issues that are beneficial to the livelihood of their families not engaging in friction that does not help them in any way. This shows the soft spot that Eshu has for children and want children to be protected and not to lack in any way. Elegua can be said to be inclined either as a good when he intervenes when parties are engaging in the brawl. The Yoruba has a principle of uncertainty he can either be of help or become a trickster, complicating simple issues at other times he may encourage the strengths of mortal men or just laugh at them for being feeble.

Conclusion

The similarities between the two gods are that they are both tricksters. For Hermes, he will always trick a subject to either earn profit, favor or to get out of trouble. For Eshu, his cunningness and trickery are to become the center of attention. He also complicates issues and creating a paradox to get a good laugh out of a situation. The other similarity is that both Hermes and Eshu are intermediary gods who are messengers between mortals and the other gods. The difference between Hermes and Eshu is that Eshu does not have the gift of gab like Hermes who always has the right choice of words for every time of situation. The other difference between Hermes and Elegua is that Elegua has a soft spot for children while Hermes does not necessarily show his weak spot for anyone rather he is more inclined in getting his way. Elegua also as a god needs to appease to get favors from him a good offering on Monday of cooked cornmeal, rum, and a fine cigar. Given the preceding both mythical gods can be said to have different characteristics and often reacted uniquely despite both being known for their trickery nature.

Works Cited

Brenda Sutton, Mythic Imagination Institute. "Mythic Imagination Institute Elegua." www.mythicjourneys.org/newsletter_may07_elegua.html.

W. Heinemann, Hesiod, the Homeric hymns, and Homerica. Vol. 57. 1920.