Vengeance of the Furies: Mythology, Family & Apollo's Quote - Essay Sample

Introduction

In mythology, the Furies represented female deities of vengeance. Often referred to as "infernal goddesses," they would usually revenge on men who took a false oath. To a significant extent, several quotations in the Furies elucidate more about the idea of the family. A comparison of Apollo's quote in the Furies with others in different contexts reveals that the concept of the family depends on the context and mythical views in many settings give a false sense of the family. Apollo's quote highlights several points that shed more light regarding his idea of a family. He has personal opinions about its composition and virtues that guide it too. Apollo talks about the concept of marriage being between a man and a woman even though it is something depending on destiny. It (marriage) is a serious matter that has more meanings than the oath that people take, and it is defended by justice. Apollo develops his view by asserting that murder and vengeance are unjust (220-221). He further highlights the principles that form the foundation of the family, which contain highly generalized views about the family unit. A close reflection reveals their mythical state.

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Apollo reflects on the composition of a family and its future. He seems to have a firm conviction that the union should be between a man and woman, which depends on destiny; this is a false notion- to some extent. On one end, it takes a lot of effort to compose a family. People take time to know each other and get their objectives right. It is a process, and people do not wait for destiny to take its course. Even though it is challenging to determine the future accurately, everything is not destiny-based as Apollo suggests.

Even though the constituents of past and present marriages are different, the principles that guide it seem to remain the same- to a significant extent. Apollo quotes on the need for justice. By promoting justice, partners should avoid abuse and try to protect each other in all situations. Even though it is somewhat challenging to maintain a pleasant environment for families to blossom at all times, demeaning and dishonoring the vows that one makes when starting a family is highly condemned. Regarding that, it is essential to remain highly guided on how to approach family as an institution to keep it from a potential breakup.

Apollo highlights the importance of avoiding heinous acts, including murder, vengeance, and inflicting one's wrath on one another. At this point, the importance of staying focused on creating a peaceful unit is apparent. Many families have been disintegrating in the present society due to a lack of moral guidance, and Apollo quotes the various issues that people must avoid. The assumption, here, is that avoiding them promotes stability that is essential for a peaceful cohesion. However, it does not suggest that their absence signifies being a stable state. They are just a part of the issues that people must avoid.

Works and Days' (703-704): there's nothing better a man can get compared to a good wife.

Different from Apollo's quote that focuses on the principles of a stable family and the relevance of marriage, the Works and Days' quote suggests the importance of a wife and the quality she should possess. In general, this quote suggests that there is nothing better compared to a good wife that a man can possess. Conversely, having a bad one is detrimental, particularly when it comes to family management. There is no denying that wives play an instrumental role in family composition. Indeed, they are a critical part whose function cannot be overlooked at any time. Many views have been given regarding the role of husband and the wife in the family, and their qualities discussed in many platforms as factors that determine the success of the family.

On the qualities of the woman, Works and Days develop the gendered view of woman as that of someone who plays a subordinate role in a family. The quote follows the premise that good management makes a family stable since it is a good thing for mortal men. Bad management is condemned, and it is how the woman helps a man determines the level of the desired management. Regarding that, a family cannot be firm if the wife does not support her husband.

Works and Days highlight that "for a man can win nothing better than a good wife." This point implies that there are some qualities that someone's wife should possess for her to qualify to be good. Even in modern families, a lot has been said concerning what a man should observe and prioritize when looking for a wife- and it is the same with this quotation. The suggestions have been varying depending on people's culture, family backgrounds, religion, and social class, among other factors. The quote further suggests that there is "nothing more painful than a bad one (wife)." As a result, what keeps the family together is the quality of a woman.

Despite the suggestion that a wife should be "good" and avoid being "bad," there are a lot of inconsistencies as far as the evaluation of this issue is concerned. To some people, the "good" means being morally upright and avoiding acting against the set norms that determine the right way in which people should conduct themselves. Given this, a woman should conform to the social settings regardless of what she believes in; this has made the idea of being "good" a misconception. It is confusing at some instances, but that is normal since society is advancing at a high rate and people's views on many social concepts are changing too.

Lucian in a strange land and meeting a woman with strange looks (Lucian's True Story 243).

This quote is primarily about the various challenges that men go through when far from their families and the tough decisions circumstances force them to make. On one end, it explains the roles of men versus women in most family setups. Men are the ones that lead the family and are somewhat more responsible for the family's success. Women assume a subordinate role and should take care of the family when men are absent. On the other end, it shows that men must cope with challenges and overcome situational pressures.

Lucian mentions visiting a place where, among other men, meets highly friendly women who welcome them in their homes. However, their (women's) intentions are not genuine since they used to feed on strangers that came from other areas. They took advantage of the desperate and innocent nature of the strangers and fed on them. It is an experience that not only teaches more about the position of the man in the family but also the extent of risk that different situations expose them to but must overcome them as they cater for their families' needs.

Principally, this quote is a reflection of the everyday challenges and temptations that men come across, which can bring the family down if they do not make wise decisions. As primary caregivers, all their needs cannot be met if they stay in one place. They must leave their comfort zones and do what is necessary for their families to prosper. Even though the existence of "sea women" is mythical, this quotation from Lucian's True History is an accurate reflection of the possible challenges that people must overcome as they try to stabilize their families.

To a significant extent, this quotation reveals that men must make some tough decisions for them to defend their families and achieve the objectives they set. Herein, the issue of gender comes out as well. Men are the ones expected to wander in search of family resources. They are the spine; thus, if they fail, the entire family fails. In the process, they encounter hardships, but they must deal with them appropriately. However, the depiction of the man as the only source of family needs is mythical. The idea of the family and the roles that partners play has changed significantly- they are no longer man-dependent.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the three analyzed quotes highlight several points regarding the concept of the family- some are mythical while others are not. Apollo depicts a family as a unit formed from a marriage between a man and a woman even though this idea is changing. On the other hand, the Works and Days' quote suggests that there is nothing better than a good woman, which is true. However, the meaning of "good" in many societies is highly misleading. Lucian is of the view that men must work for their family and must do everything within their means to succeed. However, they must encounter temptations and must deal with them intelligently. Even though these perspectives are different but raising valid points about the family as an institution, they all contain some mythical elements as analyzed above.