Icarus Flies Too Close To The Sun Critical Lens Essay

Everybody knows that following the rules can have a large impact on the result of the situation. Myths, Icarus Flies Too Close to the Sun, retold by By Josephine Preston Peabody, and Pandora’s Box, retold by Louis Untermeyer both remind readers of the outcome when disobeying rules. In Icarus Flies Too Close to the Sun, a young boy named Icarus is ignorant of his father's directions on flying and ends up suffering the consequences. In Pandora’s Box, a girl with attributes from the gods opens her dowry out of curiosity and suffers the consequences. In both Icarus Flies Too Close to the Sun and Pandora’s box we learn that sometimes one has to follow directions from the wise for the best outcome.

The myth Icarus Flies Too Close to the Sun demonstrates

“‘Remember,’ said the father, ‘never to fly very low or very high, for the fogs about the earth would weigh you down, but the blaze of the sun will surely melt your feathers apart if you go too near’. For Icarus, these cautions went in at one ear and out by the other.” (Retold by Peabody 2). This text is essential because it explains the rules Daedulus cautioned Icarus. It also proved to be important because it shows how Icarus is ignorant of his father's remark on the rules. It relates to the theme by describing the words of wisdom to ensure the best outcome. It reveals that Daedulus is knowledgeable when it comes to Icarus’s safety when using the wings. The rules provided by Daedulus, which if followed, can prove the best outcome. However, Icarus is too carried away in the thought that he receives a chance to fly. Consequently, he doesn’t carefully listen to directions. As the myth progresses, readers can see the consequences of his decision. “He fluttered his young hands vainly — he was falling — and in that terror, he remembered. The heat of the sun had melted the wax from his wings” (Retold by Peabody 2). Icarus did not consider his father's directions, and he suffered the consequences. The outcome

Toward the beginning of the myth, Epimethus recalls the wise words of his brother: “We have reason to fear the gods,’ said Epimetheus, ‘and also their gifts,’ he added, pointing to the casket” (Retold by Untermeyer 478). This is proved to be important because it explains the reason why the casket should not be opened. Prometheus, Epimethus’s brother, cautioned Epimethus about the untrustworthy behavior of the gods. With this knowledge, Epimethus knows that Pandora should never open her dowry. Similarly in Icarus Flies Too Close to the Sun, Daedalus warns Icarus of the dangers of flying too high or too low. Both myths reason clarify that not following the directions of the knowledgeable ones may lead to consequences. As the story continues, Pandora constantly admires and desires her dowry: “Pandora restrained her curiosity about the wonderful casket. But with the passing of time, she could not help wondering what it might contain” (Retold by Untermeyer 479). This is shown to be important because Pandora is fighting against her directions. Although she is aware that she cannot open the casket, she can’t fight off her curiosity. Icarus’s conflict is a little different, he never listened to his father’s rules. On the other hand, Pandora is fully aware of the consequences of opening her dowry. As the story starts to end, Pandora can’t restrain her curiosity any longer: “It was only a moment and