Introducing Mythology to Youngsters
In the creation of Hercules Disney writers, Ron Clements and Don McEnery were ruthless in their usage -or rather nonuse - of the "actual" myth of Heracles. Most adults, with even a superficial knowledge of the myth, would not characterize the Disney writers' portrayal as accurate. Tough decisions, about which details of the myth to include or skip entirely, given the constraints of the target audience's age and maturity level, were necessary. Throughout the movie many scenes depict concessions by Clements and McEnery to partially include or allude to the "facts" of the Greek myth. The writers' usage of one-liners and over-their-young-heads jokes makes the movie entertaining to the whole family. Though not a factual reenactment of the Greek myth of Heracles, the Disney version creates a wonderful introduction of characters and locations in Greek mythology for young children using what is suitable and fun for them. The Disney movie starts off with a concession where Hercules is the natural son of Hera and Zeus taken shortly after birth thru the devious acts of Hades, Lord of the Underworld, and his sidekicks, Pain and Panic. Foster parents Alcmene and Amphitryon take on the raising of Hercule
Humor for parents and other adults was the intention of many of the well-dropped lines and precision placement of props in the animation. Clements and McEnery's choice of wording such as "the Big Olive" when describing Thebes was classic as a maneuver to elicit a titter from adults. The comical use of how the famous statue "Venus" came to have no arms, an arch showing "over 500,000,000 Served" and the line "I haven't seen so much love in one room since Narcissus looked at himself" (Disney) were worthy of a few chuckles by audience members as well. Presenting "Herc" as a "Grecian Express" spokesman, athletic superhero with his line of "Air-Hercs" complete with sports bottles and posters provides a perspective on today's role models that is definitely 20th Century gone Greek as well as being humorous. Disney's ability to provide child animation and storyline with chuckles for adults enables Disney to keep the coffers full. Name-dropping becomes an art form in the Disney version of Hercules. Many of the main characters from mythology are included to be seen or heard of such as Hercules, Zeus, Hera, Alcmene, Hades, the Serpents, Nessus, Nymphs, the Amazons, King Augean and Megara. Though in the myth Megara is the wife he marries early on and later kills during an uncontrollable rage sent to him by Hera. Disney writers use the name for the
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Approximate Word count = 907
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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