What exactly is the lesson we're supposed to get from the story of Icarus? Listen to your father? Aim for the middle ground (not too close to sea or sun)?
When I taught mythology, my students asked me that same question, and I said basically the same thing you said... Listen to your father, heed advice, and of course one student said, don't use wax on your wings. I also got the impression from this myth that there was something to be fearful of with the power of the heat of the sun, or the deep sea... like respect those powers, because sun and water give life, but can also take life away.
That's the thing for everybody it's different, the most obvious idea would be to know your limits and when to stop, that doesn't mean however that it's the correct one. You also have to take into consideration that this story is more than 2500 years old and back then keeping plebs, plebs and kings, kings was high on the priority list.
Hubris was a major sin against the gods of ancient Greece. Icarus thought he could fly higher and higher, so he was cut down. Bellerophon also came to a sticky end when he thought he could reach Olympus on top of Pegasus. At least that is what I took from the story.
Thanks for your answers. LegendofJoe, I actually didn't see hubris in Icarus; I saw excitement and heedlessness. However, it's been awhile since I read the story so I could be wrong.
We can draw lots of lessons can be learned on myths even most of the stories are not true. With the story of Icarus, the lesson for me after reading about it is to not go over your head. There is no problem with aiming high but calamity can strike when we think we are already invincible.
I think it has something to do with the old adage that law is made to be broken (which I hope doesn't applies anymore today). It is like the old myth about Adam eating the forbidden fruit.
I also think it's about not getting in deeper than you can handle and to also listen to others. Take others advice, do not be pig headed and stubborn trying to show others that you already know all and you can do anything without help.
I like to see Icarus as a typical teen determined to be independent and to "touch the red button." Tell me not to touch it, and I just have to touch it. I also see Icarus as rash, heedless and fearless when heading into danger. It's a necessary thing in cultures, for their youngest and strongest to be a little reckless. Romeo and Juliet were similar -- teenagers acting in haste, not heeding their elders' advice.
Hubris was frowned upon in Greek and Roman myth. Icarus' downfall came when he though himself to go where only the gods and heros had gone before. As humans, we have limitations, and Icarus disregarded that knowledge. Keep in mind that, at the time, the sea belonged to Poseidon and the sky belonged to Zeus (no planes or subs, ships yes, but sailors knew that Poseidon ruled them). Had Icarus heeded his father's warning and stayed between both realms, he'd have been safe, but once he crossed that line he lost his life. Phaethon came to a similar end because of hubris. He thought he could drive his father's chariot because he was the son of a god, he felt that he had to prove that he was better than human, but even the sons of gods had limitations. According to Apollo, Zeus himself wasn't strong enough to pull his chariot or control his horses. Had Phaethon kept to the middle ground, or better yet, stayed out of his father's chariot, he wouldn't have nearly destroyed the earth and been killed in the process.
It would seem like, from that, history is telling us to listen or dieI missed that somewhere along the lines growing up. Guess I was just lucky
Any Kansas fans out there??? They have a cool song called Icarus: Born on Wings of Steel. Don't really know what the song is about, but it sounds cool. The 70's rocked.
