In the story of Daedalus and in the story of Phaeton, told by Edith Hamilton, there are the recurring themes of arrogance and confidence. Arrogance is the trait of being full of oneself or being overconfident. The trait of confidence is facing difficult or dangerous situations without fear. Throughout this story we will see characters portray these themes. Daedalus, an artist and a craftsman, was forced to make a labyrinth to imprison a Minotaur. King Minos, who instructed Daedalus to build the labyrinth, was mad at Daedalus because an Athenian escaped. King Minos thought that Daedalus told Athenian how to get out. As a punishment, Daedalus and his son Icarus were imprisoned in the labyrinth. As the creator of the labyrinth, Daedalus knew the way out. Daedalus made two pairs of wings for himself …show more content…
His friends taunted him for acting arrogant, and even said that his father was not a god at all. Phaeton was assured by his mother, Clymene, that his father was the sun god, and advised him to ask his father himself. So Phaeton left his house and traveled to the sun god. Once arriving, he asked his father for proof that would show his relationship with the sun. Helios said he would grant any wish Phaeton desired so that Phaeton had proof. Phaeton wished to ride the sun god's sun chariot. The sun god pleaded that Phaeton was being arrogant and he should choose a different wish, but Phaeton insisted. Phaeton was put in the chariot and when he started to fly. He kept pushing the horses beyond their limits and began to lose control of the chariot. The chariot was heading towards earth and the people were screaming. Zeus saw what was going on and killed Phaeton with one of his lightning bolts. Phaeton, as well as Icarus, was arrogant. You see him being arrogant when he is warned by his father to not ride the sun chariot. Icarus insisted that he should, and when he did he