Myth, Mythology and Epic
Dr. Swati Joshi
Gujarat
The word creation requires a structure and this structure could be in different forms just like creative writing (Prosaic or Poetic), rules and regulations and different customs. There are many continuous living systems just like administration, religious conviction, communal etiquette, philosophy, literature, art and many more that engage associations with mankind. One of those systems is Mythology. Each country and each continent has its own mythology. Myth, Mythology and Epic are interrelated and converse about every culture and tradition. Every culture has also got its mythology. There is an everlasting bond between epic and mythology. Epic is a literary form but mythology is not. Mythology has saved the purpose of content for most of the epics in India and also in the West differently. Scholars and critics have given different interpretations about myth but all those interpretations agree upon certain common points. These points are- Myth has got in it supernatural characters with exceptional power. Myth depicts in them wars, combats and incidents of lust in them. Myth’s aim is teaching and preaching some morality to mankind. The relationship between literature and myth is also remarkable. Myth has got immortality because of its being content of literary texts and whatever myth was in the form of Oral Tradition has been documented through literary works. The same way literature is also benefited because of Myth. It has got variety of subject matter, thematic concerns and art of narration due to Myth becoming the content of literature. This is how both Literature and Myth have proved to be complementary to each other.
We can divide Mythology into two major divisions.
1 Indian Mythology
2 Classical Greek Mythologies
Classical Greek Mythologies largely deals with the place like Rome, Troy, Sparta, Athens, Thebes and some such places. It would be essential to note here that any work of mythology, includes in its supernatural characters, involving themselves and participating in the issues, conflicts and rifts related to mankind.
It is not essential that for the writing of a literary work with some kind of mythology should be there but only a work with magnitude is required. Even a small literary work can have in it the use of Mythology. It is true that whenever a literary work is written with some elements of Mythology in it, it leads to the problem of interpretations. The problem of interpretation of Myth would become even more acute when the person who interprets it is not familiar with that particular Myth. The appropriate interpretation of such a literary work would be possible only when the person who interprets is fully acquainted with that mythology. For example- If a woman tells her man not to do anything Evil and when her name is Mandodari, the person who does not know Myth would treat that woman as nearly a common character but a person who knows myth would relate it to the mythological character of Mandodari who had also requested Ravan not to live on the path of evil. This is how appropriate interpretation of a literary work with mythology in it takes place only when that person knows mythology.
No work of mythology can ever be approached or assessed with simply logic, reason and scientific attitude. The appreciation and assessment of a work of mythology demands faith and readiness to enter into the world of make believe. The scientific approach would kill the charm of mythology. In the contemporary times Epics and mythology works are not composed because the element of faith has died away and its place is taken by Reason. In the contemporary times man believes and follows only that which is proved scientifically. Such an approach has reduced the composition of works with mythology in them. One more responsible reason is we have now no more the time of community values where as such ground works used to be written during the Time of community values.
There is no scope for mankind to aid new myth to the existing amount of mythology. Even if a new literary work is composed on mythology the context would be from the past. Of course, new interpretations in the modern context on existing myths are possible but investing or adding a new myth is next to impossible.
The successive chapters are trying to interpret the selected works of Bhasa in the modern context. The attempt has been made to find out how those works sustain their relevance even in the modern times. It goes to prove them classic works as they continue to appeal us, move us as much as they had their appeal in the past.
Dr Swati Joshi
