Arguing a case

When you use myths, you should tell them in a way that highlights the ideas you are offering about your subject. In other words, use parts of the myth to illustrate the theme.

AVOID THIS:

Hermes was a trickster figure. Soon after he was born, he stole the cattle of his brother Apollo. He drove the herd of fifty cattle backwards and brought them to a cave where he hid them. An old man saw him but Hermes asked him not to tell what he had seen. Then Hermes made fire and sacrificed two of the cattle, and sneaked back home and went to bed. When Apollo found out that his cattle had been stolen, he confronted Hermes, but Hermes pretended he was only a little baby and couldn’t have pulled off the theft. Apollo was going to punish him, and dragged him before Zeus. But finally Hermes gave Apollo the lyre he had made, which satisfied Apollo, and he gave the cattle back.

Problems with this: The author has really made only one general point: That Hermes is a trickster. But what exactly does that mean? And what specific ideas does the Homeric Hymn bring up that relate to his role as trickster? The author may realize that there are some subtleties there, but mentioning them in his/her retelling of the myth doesn’t really highlight them for me to see his/her thought. What I see is a fairly obvious statement (Hermes is a trickster) followed by a retelling of a myth I know you know.

MORE LIKE IT:

Hermes is a trickster figure. The Homeric Hymn to Hermes reveals how important this is to his nature by highlighting different aspects of his trickster status.

First, it shows Hermes as a culture hero. When Hermes is newly born, the first thing he does is invent the lyre. Lyres were an important element of Greek culture because poetry preserved key ideas of the culture, and also because young boys learned to sing Homer and other poetry as a major part of their education. Many other trickster figures from different cultures also create tools and give wisdom that benefits humans. For example, Prometheus gave humans fire and ship-building technology (Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound, 90-91).

Second, it shows another aspect of the trickster: his mischief. Hermes steals the cattle of his brother Apollo, taking on someone far more powerful than himself, as tricksters tend to do. Hermes uses his wiles to confuse anyone tracking him, by making the cattle walk backwards and hiding his own footprints. He also uses charm, another trickster tool, when he tries to convince a witness not to tell.

Hermes also has no problem with lying. When his mother asks him what he’s been up to, he claims to be “a helpless little child who knows in his heart very little of evil.” But he ends up by admitting that he is after honor – by stealing it. “I shall go to Pytho and break right into his great house and I shall seize from within plenty of very beautiful tripods and bowls and gold …” (Homeric Hymn 260).

Prometheus was punished for his deceptions, but Hermes was not. Even when Apollo hauls him before Zeus, Hermes knows he has nothing to fear. He is finally honest about his theft, and quickly offers Apollo the lyre to make amends. Since Hermes is a god, it seems that he does not have to fear the kind of punishment Prometheus does. Also, Hermes’ trickery, unlike Prometheus’, did not result in changes in the world order. It was a simple plot – an act of mischeif. Hermes’ trickery was all in fun.

ANALYSIS

The second author has been careful to link every element of the myth s/he tells with the points s/he is making. S/he has also made a lot more points, and articulated them effectively: 1) that the HH shows how important the trickster rtole is to Hermes’ basic identity; 2) that it emphasizes his creative ability, 3) that he is mischeivous, and 4) specifically he takes on those more powerful, 5) that he lies easily as well as steals; 6) that he is interested in honor and glory. S/he also 7) contrasts Hermes’ ability to get away with it with Prometheus’ punishment and 8) offers a possible explanation – a point I hope s/he will pursue further. S/he also uses well-chosen quotes to get across her message and gives appropriate citations.

The first author might have thought many of these points, but s/he left the myth narration to tell it on its own. S/he really needed to bring out the key points – I don’t know what s/he’s thinking , or where s/he gets his/her ideas from, unless s/he spells them out. Think of it as proving a case – the evidence rarely speaks for itself; you have to present it.