Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Perseus vs. Jason? Heroics?

Who is more heroic: Jason or Perseus? Please sight at least one example from our text and use the "heroic code" terminology to defend your claims. (Due by 3:30p.m. Tues., March 17th)

29 comments:

kaitlinb.. said...

I think that Jason was more heroic than Perseus. That is not to say Perseus was not heroic because what he did was very brave but Jason went on a quest for being a hero and with the greatest heroes. He overcame more problems than Perseus had to. And he was doing it to be a hero and king. Perseus's intentions were to provide a gift. In the end they both proved to be great. Jason and Perseus both had help as Jason's was from Medea and Perseus was from the god's. They both did heroic deeds and survived the impossible.

kbachel said...

I believe that Perseus is more heroic than Jason becasue from the time he was a child he was faced with problems. He is more nobal in my opinion because he goes through all the obstacles just to help the people he loves. However both he and Jason both receive help from the gods which is considered to make you stronger and more heroic. Both of these men went through tough obstacles to achive something.

MadisonF said...

I think that Perseus is more heroic than Jason becuase he actually had to kill a monster, Medusa. Although they both had many obstacles and challenges to travel through, I think that Perseus was doing a good deed. He was saving man kind from a monster who killed men. Also they both had help from the Gods, which made it easier for them. Overall, Perseus is more heroic, he was the one who save the people. He was the one who risked his life to save others, not to become a king.

lisa s said...

I think that Perseus was more Heroic than Jason. For one thing, Jason had excessive pride (hybris) which eventually led to his downfall, and the deaths of his fiancee and sons. Perseus had to face hardships from the start, but he was also prideful in declaring that he would kill Medusa. Although, unlike Perseus, it did not lead to his ultimate demise. However, both of these heroes received supernatural aid, which in Greek society showed strength.

BrittneyW said...

I think that Perseus is more heroic than Jason. Although both he and Jason recieved help from the gods, Perseus had the ultimate desire to be recognized and he pursued prizes and fame. Both of these are included in the heroic code. When Perseus set out to kill Medusa and bring back her head, he had a desire to be recognized so that he could become king. Perseus also slayed a monster that was seen as indestructable and by heroic code terminology that makes him a hero.

souimet said...

I think that Perseus was more heroic than Jason because of the person he is. They both had to deal with difficulties in their life but who doesn't? But when Perseus went through all of his difficulties it didn't make him weak it made him stronger and he believed that anything he did was possible, like killing Medusa. Perseus helped the people by killing the monster that killed the people. I think both of them have their own heroic qualities but still to me Perseus was more of a heroic person because he helped the people.

MollyK said...

I think that Jason was definitely more heroic. He had to face many more challenges than Perseus, and had much less help from the gods to do it. I think that Jasons motive was much more noble than Perseus' because he was doing it to save his kingdom, while Perseus undertook the challenge to just show off. Jason had the desire to be recognized as someone who could rule a kingdom, which is a wanted trait according to the heroic code. Jason also did what he did best, which was win back his kingdom and be a fierce fighter, which is also included in the heroic code.

rsinn_butnotfire said...

I think Perseus was more heroic than jason, or more heroic in my eyes. i think hero's are generally good, even though there is the idea of a tragic hero. Therefore Jason's downfall and betrayal of Medea destroys his hero status in my eyes.

DerekW said...

In my opinion, Perseus was more heroic than Jason. They both show heroic qualities, but Perseus is helping others unlike Jason who is on a quest to become king. Medusa was evil and killed men and Perseus made it his quest to kill her to gain fame and in order to save people from her horrible gaze.

DerekW said...
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DerekW said...
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MarissaM said...

I think that Perseus is more heroic because he went on a quest not to be made a king but to get a gift. This is not in the heroic code though, I think that in my heart i think of Perseus as more of someone who is just there to do good, he even gave the kingdom to someone else when he killed the king and his followers. So in Greek Mythology terms Jason is more heroic, though in my heart I feel Perseus deserves what I would call being heroic because he has more of a heart.

Marissa Moorhead

JennW said...

I think that Perseus was more heroic than Jason because I felt that Jason went on his quest to make himself famous and Perseus went on his quest to help other people. In my mind helping other people before yourself makes you a hero. Also, Jason failed to uphold the heroic code. He succeeded in bringing back the Golden Fleece but he had to step over Medea and others he loved just to do so. Perseus upheld the heroic code making him more of a hero than Jason.

JennW said...

I think that Perseus was more heroic than Jason because I felt that Jason went on his quest to make himself famous and Perseus went on his quest to help other people. In my mind helping other people before yourself makes you a hero. Also, Jason failed to uphold the heroic code. He succeeded in bringing back the Golden Fleece but he had to step over Medea and others he loved just to do so. Perseus upheld the heroic code making him more of a hero than Jason.

nathana said...
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nathana said...

I think Perseus is a better hero because he doesn't act out of a motive for power. He acts to defend others. Jason is merely trying to take power. In addition while both received divine favor Jason was particularly dependent on his friends and on Medea. Perseus still had to actually fight and behead Medusa whereas Jason just had to toss a rock. However Jason better epitomizes a Greek Hero. He displays classic motives such as a search for glory and has a typical downfall brought on by hubris.

cadyd said...

I think Perseus is more heroic because he fought for survival while Jason fought for fame. Jason also had the help of the gods to aid him while Perseus had to fight the gods minions.

mallorym said...

I definately feel that Jason was more heroic than Perseus. Jason was able to go on his quest to become a hero, and the battles and situations he overcame made him a hero. Although Perseus also had heroic intentions, I think that Jason's intentions overruled Perseus. Also, Perseus had more help from the divinities during his journey than Jason did, proving that Jason can accomplish many things without help from the Gods.

ianm said...

I believe that Jason is more heroic than Perseus is. Jason seems to show more of the heroic code qualities. Jason is in it to get treasure and to be recognized and many things of the sort. Perseus only does his deed in order to take the throne. Jason has so many more tasks that he attempts and completes whereas Perseus only really has one quest that is the equivilant of one of Jason's tasks.

brian h. said...

I think Perseus was more heroic than Jason. They both received help from the gods, which is heroic. They both were seeking fame and fortune, also heroic. They both went on a quest which entailed many dangers and obstacles. But, in the end, Jason was not faithful to his wife. This isn't part of the heroic code, but in most definitions, this is not heroic at all. Cheating on your wife is not heroic.

bvon1301 said...

I think that Jason is more heroic than Perseus. Jason overcame more problems and challenges with his quest and he had less help with it from the gods. Jason set out to be heroic where as Perseus's intentions was to take the throne.

Matt D. said...

I think that Jason was more herioc than Perseus. He killed Medusa, which he couldn't even look at her without turing into stone, which is pretty cool. He did this to save his people from an evil ruler, and no one thought that he would accomplish it. Jason also faced many more challenges than Perseus and he completed all of them very well.

Tyler H. said...

I think that Perseus was more heroic then Jason. Jason betrayed Medea, and abandoned her. That displays an attitude of pride that a more heroic person, such as Perseus, wouldn't exhibit. Furthermore Jason went on his quest to gain his place as king. Perseus went to save the people he loved. Jason also failed to uphold the heroic code and Perseus succeeded at doing that. Perseus is more heroic because he displayed a more heroic adventure.

A_Querry said...

Jason was more heroic than Perseus because he was able to go on more adventures. He led the Argonauts to defeat the enemy and eventually got the golden fleece. When pondering why, the biggest thing that came to my mind was Jason was smarter in defeating the enemy. He also did not have the gods on his side. In the end, Jason completed the heroic code by making a name for himself.

A_Querry said...

Jason was more heroic than Perseus because he was able to go on more adventures. He led the Argonauts to defeat the enemy and eventually got the golden fleece. When pondering why, the biggest thing that came to my mind was Jason was smarter in defeating the enemy. He also did not have the gods on his side. In the end, Jason completed the heroic code by making a name for himself.

BenE said...

Both of these men ere very heroic, but Perseus displayed that he is a bit more worthy of the title hero. Jason was too prideful and it came back to get him in the end. Perseus faced adversity thoughout his life and because of that mad him stronger. Perseus took everything in stride and came out on top, never being too pompus. Jason was a hero, but when comparing these two heroes, Perseus is the more heroic one.

JOSH P said...

Between Perseus and Jason i would say perseus is the more heroic person. Both of them have heroic traits but i feel that Perseus helps people more than jason. Jason has one main task at hand and that is becoming king. He has helped out the people by killing medusa but that alone dosent make him more heroic than Perseus.

Unknown said...

To me a hero is a person who can admit there mistakes and still does not want the fame, and with Perseus he only accepted the challenge just to have the fame. According to the heroic code you must have the desire to rule a kingdom which was a trait Jason desired.

TWilson465 said...

basing my response entirely off the "heroic code" i have to believe that Jason is more heroic. Perseus pursues Medusa and slays her which allows him to fall under the "hero" category according to the code. Jason however, desires to rule over a kingdom and seeks gifts both of which classify him as a hero making the score 2-1 in favor of Jason. So, objectively, i can concur that Jason is more heroic that Perseus.