Misinterpretations of myths
For a generation so scared of myths, we can’t really do without them. They are everywhere. Since we’ve accepted that the truth — in any given sphere — is difficult to accept mainly thanks to the element of grey, we ought to step back and see the role myths play in our daily lives. The myth of success is on par with the myth of failure; the myth of heaven can’t do without the myth of hell; the myth of happiness yo-yos with the myth of sorrow. In other words, there is no middle ground in the world of myths. All extremes are equally valid. Which could be why we don’t question them anymore.
Somewhere deep inside, we know that we need them to fuel our daily lives with aspirations. The myth of Jesus makes us believe in the goodness of heart. The myth of Buddha makes enlightenment a plausible goal. The myth of Rama makes the public expect selfless governance from their rulers. The myth of Mohammed makes us accept the finality of a prophet. Such myths, and many more through ages, have shaped our society into what it is today: a sheep of believers who wouldn’t dare question those they tend to like.
Forget the ancient and the medieval times, take the cases of the greatest myths of the 20th century (Hitler) and the 21st century (Steve Jobs). We tend to look at them for what they wanted us to see and ignore everything else. And this happened in the Age of Information and the Age of Internet respectively. Says a lot about us.
So, maybe, the problem with myths in place has less to do with the personalities in question but our belief system itself which has so much to answer. We love just like we believe; we have a definite limit for each. There is only so much we can love. And there is only so much we can believe. Once we love someone, we fail to see their failings. And once we believe something, we are too emotionally invested to put it through scrutiny.
This leads to a situation wherein we start misinterpreting what doesn’t need to be misinterpreted. An imaginary line emerges between good and evil, moral and immoral. Forget sentient characters, even those who are figments of mythological minds aren’t spared. Binary becomes the order of the day. Suddenly, Ravana can’t be a scholar and an arrogant king at the same time. Or Shurpanakha can’t be a victim as well as a manipulative sister. Remember the element of grey? Sorely missing.
As a result, we overvalue what we don’t have and undervalue what we do — all in the name of myths. We have a myth called democracy which is supposed to magically turn the majority to be on the right side of history. We have a myth called capitalism that will release the poor from the shackles of poverty by giving them a chance at the roulette. We have a myth called security wherein the future is more significant than the future.
Unlike us, myths don’t die. To make matters intense, they keep transforming into something else through and through. Think of an insatiable creature that won’t stop at anything, least of all, you.
