Human Failure In 'Daedalus And Icarus'

Human Failure Essay

Failure is an epidemic, and it has been around for as long as time. The failure of mankind has been recorded throughout history on many mediums. You can pick up any piece of literature or art, and find some kind of human failure in it. There must be a source for this abundance of human failure. I believe the birthplace and the fuel of human failure is neglect of each other and, different situations. The story of “Daedalus and Icarus” is one of many examples that prove neglect is a problem. Other examples include the poem “Musee des Beaux Arts”, and the painting “Landscape with the fall of Icarus.” To begin with, the concept of human failure coming from neglect is broadly shown in the story of “Daedalus and Icarus”. Daedalus

“Musee des Beaux Arts” is a poem about the tragedy of Icarus, and his outcome. The first example of human failure coming from neglect is the disregard for the possibility of a disastrous situation. “That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot” (Auden). This example is saying yes bad things will happen, but we need to ignore it and push it away. They neglect the fact that something bad could happen. This neglect will result in the failure to be prepared for anything that could occur. One more example from the poem “Musee des Beaux Arts” is the neglect of their peers. “The ploughman may have heard the splash, the forsaken cry” (Auden). The young boy Icarus was in the lake drowning after falling from the sky. There were people outside watching the incident take place, yet they did nothing to stop it. Those bystanders that neglected the poor boy Icarus failed to save

This painting illustrates the fatal outcome of Icarus. One way the painting shows neglect is the carelessness to notice people in need. In the bottom corner of the painting you can clearly see a young boy, feet up, drowning in the water (Brueghi). Also in the painting there is a ship, a plowman, and a sheep herder looking away from the dying boy (Brueghi). These details in the painting undoubtedly demonstrates that neglect is a problem. The people painted in the picture are neglecting to help save Icarus life, let alone even acknowledge that someone is dying. Another example of neglect in the painting “Landscape with the fall of Icarus” is the neglect to animals. In the middle of the painting a shepherd can be seen looking up at the sky rather than herding his sheep (Brueghi). While he is looking up at the sky his sheep are wondering dangerously close to the cliff edge (Brueghi). The shepherd is neglecting his animals, and is failing to take care of them. This may ultimately lead to the death of his