Lindsey Ganzert

Mrs. Stoeber
Advanced English 1 Period 3
December 3, 2012

Deadly Desire
Practice make perfect is a familiar saying, known all over the world. But many
people understand that no one can be perfect because humans all come with various flaws
and weaknesses. The Greeks understood that these defects kept the human race from
accomplishing perfection. To highlight these blemishes, the Greeks told and wrote tales
that are called myths. Myths were stories in which humans flaws and weaknesses were
spotlighted. Two of these flaws explained by the Greeks are mans excessive passion to
obtain wealth, and the ability to take a life with out remorse.
Many myths are based on mans overpowering need for an abundance of wealth
and riches. One myth, The Story of Arion, demonstrates this flaw. Because Arion
possesses an untold amount of wealth, the pirates on his boat attempt to kill him. This
myth shows just how far people will go to acquire riches. Fortunately, Arions musical
talent helps him and his money escape in one piece. In the story Bacchus and Midas
King Midas is rewarded a wish of any kind. Promptly, he wished for everything her
touched to turn to gold. When he realized that he could not love, eat or drink, he was
advised of how to remove the curse he wished upon himself. In The Story of Ixion the
ending does not result I the same way. Ixion marries Dia in exchange for a large sum of

money , paid to Dias father. After the marrage Ixion refuses to give up his money and
instead slays her father and is sent to life in Tartarus on a spinning wheel of fire eternally.
Another human weakness written about by the Greeks is the ability to murder
without regret. Many myths are based on this flaw, including The Steeds of Diomedes.
Diomedes, King of Thrace, had two lovely steeds that fed on human flesh. To sustain
them, he seizes strangers that enter his kingdom, fattens them, and throws them to the
horses. Hercules ends this barbaric ritual and fed Diomedes to his own meat-eating
horses. Another myth of using humans as food is The Story of Tantalus. Tantalus
treated his subjects poorly, insulted the gods, and once tried to feed his own son to them.
Unfortunately, Ceres ate the poor boys shoulder but they constructed him a new one out
of gold. Also, the story Romulus and Remus expresses our flaw. When founding their
new city the brothers argue over who gets to name the kingdom, and in a fit of passion,
Romulus killed Remus and named the city after himself. Half the year every year
Romulus spends his time in Hades with his brother. All of these characters could have
avoided their horrible deaths and punishments if they did not possess the human
weakness of allowing themselves to murder and end someone elses life. Tantalus would
have had no punishment, Romulus and Remus could have ruled over their kingdom
together, and Diomedes would still be alive, if man did not have the ability to take
anothers life without guilt.
The Greeks myths allow readers in our time to understand and acknowledge
mans weaknesses. These flaws and defects in humans, such as greed and the ability to
murder, can be improved upon. If people practice controlling their desires and emotions,
people many could avoid punishment, death, or loss of a loved one. Greek myths give

man the opportunity to improve upon their wellbeing and correct their errors. Although
man can strive for perfection, the fact that they all have flaws makes it impossible to
avoid failure.