Tales of the Greek Heroes

Heracles is an archetypal Greek hero and the prominent hero in Green’s book, making him central to the book’s exploration of The Significance of Heroism in Greek Mythology. He is the son of Zeus, born to Alcmena, a mortal woman, which gives him both human and divine qualities. Throughout his life, Heracles enjoys the favor of Zeus, but Hera’s jealousy threatens his journey. Early on, Hera attempts to kill him, but Heracles’s heroic nature allows him to overcome her attempts. As Green notes, Heracles accomplishes “his first feat of valor” while still a baby when he kills Hera’s “monstrous snakes” (107), saving himself and his brother, Iphicles. Characterized by superhuman strength, Heracles is depicted in Green’s work as a mighty hero destined to save humanity from destruction.

Despite his powers, Heracles also has flaws. Green highlights his violent temper, noting that during his childhood, Heracles kills his music teacher. This intense rage and fierceness prompt Zeus to exile him on Mount Cithaeron, where Heracles must atone for his actions and come of age. This period is vital for Heracles, shaping him into the heroic ideal. Heracles’s choice, as described by Green, emphasizes the core trait of a hero: choosing virtue over vice. Heracles rejects the idea of an easy and comfortable life, opting instead for a difficult path guided by virtue. This moment defines Heracles’s destiny. He vows never to give up in the face of challenge, determined to prove himself a great hero: “I will not turn back however hard it prove, and whatever I have to endure on the way” (117).

To test his heroic strength and courage, the gods choose Heracles to complete 12 labors. Heracles faithfully follows Eurystheus’s commands and completes each labor, no matter how dangerous or cruel they may be. He also faces ongoing challenges from Hera and human enemies. Throughout his adventures, Heracles fights monsters and endures hardships, showing his ability to overcome external forces. Trials of this kind are central to the archetypal hero’s journey, highlighting Heracles as the closest thing Green’s collection comes to a single protagonist.

Hercules’s relationship to Zeus illustrates the interdependent nature of gods and humans, in Green’s telling. For all his strength, Hercules is not invincible: Zeus must step in to save Heracles from Hera’s wrath. He does so, however, to secure Heracles’s alliance in the final battle with the giants, demonstrating that the gods themselves require human aid. Heracles ultimately completes his journey after defending Zeus’s dominion and helping to defeat the giants, as evidenced by the fact that he is transformed into an immortal soon afterward. Even as a demigod, Heracles cannot escape the experience of death, as he is tragically killed by his wife. However, his ascension to Olympus marks his victory over mortality and the end of his suffering as a human.

Prometheus is a central hero in Green’s book—the creator and benefactor of humanity, described as the “good Titan.” Green writes that Prometheus created people out of clay but sought to make them “something more than mere living images of the gods” (31). Though himself an immortal figure, Prometheus is thus immediately delineated as a symbol of human progress and rebellious spirit. Unlike many of the other Titans, Prometheus is kind and benevolent, possessing great intelligence and skill that he shares with people, teaching them “all the arts and crafts of life” (31). This mission results in his rebellion against Zeus. While Zeus orders Prometheus to aid humanity, he forbids him from granting them the use of fire. However, Prometheus realizes that without fire, civilization cannot progress, so he courageously decides to defy Zeus and risk divine punishment, making him a symbol of sacrifice for humanity.

While the mythical Prometheus embodies hubris, he has also become a symbol of resistance against tyrannical power. Green largely frames him in this latter, heroic light. Similar to Heracles, Prometheus pursues his goal with determination and does not yield in the face of adversity: “I must give Fire to mankind, the last and greatest of gifts. But if I do so, I shall incur the terrible wrath of Zeus…Yet even that I will endure” (33). Under Prometheus’s guidance, humanity achieves its “true inheritance,” underscoring the idea that Prometheus’s act was necessary and right.

Prometheus also demonstrates spiritual strength and foresight. When Zeus summons him to face punishment, Prometheus predicts Zeus’s future downfall and warns him about the threat of the giants, foreseeing Heracles’s arrival. This marks one of the book’s most significant departures from classical myth—some sources have Prometheus foretell that Heracles will free him, but he does not connect this to the Gigantomachy—and it underscores both Heracles’s messianic nature and his connection to Prometheus, another savior of humanity. It also demonstrates the depth of Zeus’s anger: Although Prometheus holds the key to Zeus’s survival, Zeus nevertheless condemns him to eternal torture for his “disobedience,” chaining him to the Caucasus, where eagles devour his liver. Eventually, Zeus shows mercy, and Heracles frees Prometheus from his bonds, after which Prometheus shares his valuable knowledge. Even after his torment ends, Prometheus must wear a ring as a symbol of his imprisonment, which serves as a lasting tribute to his sacrifice and love for humanity.

Green’s Jason is a complex figure who challenges traditional notions of heroism. Born the son of the king of Iolcus, Jason’s life takes a dramatic turn when his uncle, Pelias, usurps the throne while he is still a baby. Raised by the centaur Chiron, a well-known mentor to many Greek heroes, Jason receives the necessary training to become a hero while also enjoying divine guidance and favor from Hera and Athena. As rightful heir to the throne, Jason is determined to return to Iolcus and reclaim his position and fortune. He accepts Pelias’s challenge to retrieve the Golden Fleece from Colchis, thus embarking on a heroic quest for a noble cause. With the help of Athena, he builds his legendary ship, the Argo, and gathers a band of heroes termed the Argonauts. Jason’s journey begins as an epic quest to prove his courage and virtue.

However, Jason’s journey is marked not only by challenges and battles against monsters but also by unjustified acts of violence, including the mistaken killing of King Cyzicus. Jason reaches a turning point after his encounter with Medea, a relationship that ultimately proves fatal for both of them. When Medea offers to use dark magic to help Jason claim the Golden Fleece, he loses sight of the gods’ will, and his ambition dominates. Jason marries Medea only to betray her later, driven by his desire for power and the prospect of becoming king of Corinth by marrying Glauce. These choices reveal Jason’s moral ambiguity, contrasting with Green’s other heroes’ pursuit of virtue and honor.

Medea’s actions, driven by her own desires and greed, ultimately lead to Jason’s downfall. After murdering their children in revenge, Medea escapes, leaving Jason overwhelmed with guilt. He loses the gods’ favor and must face the consequences of his actions alone. In the end, Green’s Jason is a tragic hero, dying alone and friendless, overwhelmed by his darker instincts.