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The Power Of Myth And The Modern World Summary

Decent Essays

Précis: “Myth and the Modern World”

Chapter one of The Power of Myth articulates the purpose of myths in our world today. Moyers begins with the simple question, “Why myth?” Campbell responds that mythology “catches you” and provides clues to the questions that concern mankind. Mythology, according to Campbell helps us understand what humanity is, fallible, prone to suffering but also to “striving [and] living.” Indeed, it is the “experience of life” that mythology reveals, not merely answers to questions. Learning myths helps us to turn inward, prompting an awareness of living. In particular, Campbell notes that marriage contains symbols and mythology that help us understand that stage of our lives, the union of diads, the two becoming one flesh, a powerful truth …show more content…

Growing up Catholic gave him a deep structure for appreciating the mythological narratives, reading Native American Indian stories too solidified the importance of mythological narrative. Early on these experiences prepared a foundation for a later interest in comparative mythology. Now be it a cathedral or in film, Campbell can see at work the mythological narratives in most our lives. Particularly Campbell exposes the function of myth in modern high culture: art and poetry, but recognizes that Cabbage Patch dolls are as likely to expose these motifs as is Yeats. Ultimately the medium of the archetypes changes, but the metaphors remain strongly similar. An airplane and a dragon can both symbolize the release from bondage of the spirit to the earth. The remainder of the chapter introduces the function of myth in literature and religion. Campbell tends to look for similarities across time and culture in order to suggest that mythology ultimately gives us a common message. Be it the bible, the American dollar bill or a verse from Lao-tzu mythology is imbued everywhere, consciously or unconsciously affecting

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