Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Jason Vs. Perseus?

Who is more heroic: Jason or Perseus? Please sight at least one example from our class text, the Myth and You text, and use the "heroic code" terminology to defend your claims. Complete this response by 2:30p.m. on Tuesday, October 27th.

25 comments:

Unknown said...

Perseus is more heroic because he slayed Medusa so he could save his mother, he is being selfless and completing his quest for others while Jason is only completing his quest to better himself and gain from it.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Perseus is more of a hero than Jason. Not that Jason is not a hero, he is in his own sense. Jason did do what he did to save his empire, but we might thinks that is was for self gain, but they old king was evil before he came back and took over the throne. So in a sense he is a hero there. But I believe that Perseus is more because of the challenges he when through and he he went about them with courage, and humility all just to save his mother. That personally is what makes a hero for me.

Unknown said...

I believe that Perseus is more heroic because he demonstrates his skills bteer than Jason. He did his heroic duties by cutting of Medusa's head, not only does Perseus do this for his mom but he does this to better help those who suffer from Medusa's actions.

Anonymous said...

Perseus is more heroic because he went on his journey for someone else unlike Theseus who went on his journey for himself. Perseus went to kill Medusa as a gift for the king and later ended up saving his mother with it. This is more heroic than Theseus whose goal was to become king.

Unknown said...

I believe that Perseus is more heroic because he demonstrates his skills bteer than Jason. He did his heroic duties by cutting of Medusa's head, not only does Perseus do this for his mom but he does this to better help those who suffer from Medusa's actions.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Perseus is more heroic because he was killing Medusa for his mom, maybe even other people by her death. In the text it is stated that Perseus is a destroyer, but he is a destroyer of the evil. Perseus seems to be like a typical Greek god, but he's taking his ventures for family.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Perseus is the more heroic character and Jason is the lesser. Jason is doing everything for his own personal gain and to retake his throne. While Perseus sets out on his journey to help others, I believe that putting others before yourself is one of the greatest qualities that a hero can have. I also believe that Perseus had to get his hands dirty often while Jason had allies that would help him more along the way.

Anonymous said...

Perseus is more heroic then Jason because he did something for the whole world and not just to receive the throne. Perseus killed a cereal killer in Medusa avenging hundreds of lives and saving many more in the future and Jason went on a journey to find a golden fleece in order to make a kingdom his. A quote from Mythology and You on page 198 shows Perseus's character is, "The death of Acrisius, grandfather of Persieus, indicated that man could not avoid his fate (Death)." This shows that Perseus knew that everyone had the same fate so why not face that fate early for the good of the human population.

Anonymous said...

Perseus is more heroic because he is trying to achieve his conquest for his mother who has been locked away by his evil grandfather. This seems more heroic to me, as well as that Jason has a crew of other heroes with him to capture the Golden Fleece while Perseus is largely on his own. The mythology and me says that Perseus is " a destroyer" meaning that he is unstoppable and determined it seems. He represents the heroic code because he is brave and desires to achieve some sort of prize which is Medusa's head.

Anonymous said...

I think Perseus is more heroic. He goes on a quest for his mother and to prove his strength, as in the heroic code. Perseus does not want to lose his honor and goes on this terrible journey so that he won’t. He battles monsters that are completely unheard of facing and defeating. Perseus battles the most wretched and dangerous monsters, which gives him the title of a hero.

Anonymous said...

I think Jason is more of a hero than Perseus because while Perseus saves his mother from Medusa, Jason saves an entire nation from an evil king. To me I think that is what makes a hero someone who can look past emotional ties to save the kingdom.

Unknown said...

I think that Perseus was more heroic. He did things that were intended to help and show kindness toward others. When he went to go get medusas head it was for the good of others and not just him. “….declared he would give a present better than any present there. He would go off and kill Medusa and bring back her head as a gift.” When saying this Perseus exhibits two of the heroic characteristics, pride and to feel worthy like he did something that should be honored. Where as Jason went after the Golden Fleece more for himself. He did it so he could be king, not to help anyone else. Which shows that he is more selfish that Pereus.

Anonymous said...

Perseus was a greater hero than Jason. Perseus fought Medusa to destroy a terrible monster, destroy a terrible leader, defend his mother, and take the throne. Medusa was terrible and evil monster that killed many people; by killing the gorgon, Perseus saved many lives. Jason also fought Medusa to dethrone Polydectes, a horrible leader who was awful to his people. Most importantly, Jason fought and killed Medusa to save his mother and take the throne. As said in "Mythology and You", "Polydectes, the king of Seriphus, fell in love with Danae, but she did not reciprocate his affection. The king became determined to take her by forced if she woud not come willingly, and he knew that he could succeed with his plan only if Perseus were not available to defend her." Perseus was trying to save his mother while Jason was just trying to get the throne. Although, when Perseus did go the journey also to get the throne, and by doing so, upheld the heroic code.

Anonymous said...

I feel that Perseus was more of a hero than Jason, because his cause became more noble than Jason's was. Neither wanted to lose their honor, and so went on a quest for glory and such to try and keep their honor intact as well as accomplish some spoils. Perseus' journey, however, was motivated in part by his honesty and his need to protect his mother, while Jason's quest was for only himself. Perseus along the way managed to kill monsters and save a woman from her demise, going on to make her his wife and successfully prove his honorable claims by bringing back Medusa's head and taking the throne for his own. Jason did manage to find what he went looking for, the Golden Fleece, and acquired a romantic interest along the way. He, however, proved his quest to be only for himself and that he was a more shallow hero than most by leaving behind his bride-to-be for a more politically appealing girl, which lost his favor with Hera and caused him to die alone and unhappy, crushed beneath the bow of the Argo. Perseus stayed true to his honorable journey and became king of Mycenae, saving his mother and his bride Andromeda, and his favor with the gods granted him a long life until he died of old age, where he was then placed with his wife in constellations. Overall, Perseus' story boils down to being more honest and heroic than Jason's, though both could be considered heroes for their feats.

Anonymous said...

In my perseus is more heroic. He went and slayed medusa for the fate of his mom. Media was one of the most feared creatures of the time and he was able to defeat her. Sure he did have a little help from some gods but he still accomplished his task and surprised everybody when he came back with the head of medusa. What he did took real heroism because he traveled into lands uncharted and defeated one of the most fearsome creatures at the time.

Anonymous said...

I think in terms of the heroic code, Jason is more heroic. This is not because he is a better person, and has better reasons for his quest, but because his characteristics most likely correlate with those listed and defined as heroic qualities. Jason's desire to be recognized is what starts his journey for the golden fleece, as well as the pursuit of fame and spoils as an outcome of retrieving the fleece. In the end of the myth, it touches on the subject that Medea gives Jason he secret to "perpetual youth." (Immortality.) The element of guest/host is also present in this myth with the King deciding that because he served Jason and the Argonauts food, he can not kill his guests. Jason goes on the quest of the golden fleece for the purpose of recognition, honor and fame. I believe that Jason has elements of hubris, such as when he returned and engaged himself to another women after all the help Medea did out of her love for him, taking her for granted in his perception of himself.

Anonymous said...

I think that Perseus is more heroic than Jason. Jason goes on a journey to get the golden fleece but he does it for himself. Perseus has to go fight Medusa who can turn anything she looks in the eye to stone. Also, it was not just for himself but it was for his mother. That fact that it was not just for himself makes him a more heroic figure.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Perseus was the more heroic between Jason and Perseus. Jason was on a quest for glory and for his kingdom but Perseus was on a quest for his mother. His quest was not as selfish as Jason's seemed. Jason also used people like Medea in order to accomplish his goal, and that is not a very "heroic" thing to do.

Anonymous said...

Perseus has more heroic qualities than Jason. While Jason showed great courage and the desire to be recognized, as stated in the heroic code, he also wanted to go on the journey to retrieve the golden fleece selfishly. He wanted the throne that Pelias had promised him if he could come back alive from the adventure, so that was his true motivation. Perseus had a more pure motivation as he was on a journey to get a gift for his mother’s wedding. Perseus’ journey pertain to the heroic code through his desire to be recognized by the king and feel worthy.

Anonymous said...

I think that Perseus is more heroic than Jason because Perseus slays Medusa to prove himself and to save any other people that fall victim to her curse. Jason did his quest for self gain. He did it for himself and to make himself king. A hero is supposed to put other people above himself which is exactly what Perseus did but Jason did not.

Anonymous said...

Perseus follows the heroic code more closely when compared to Jason because he displays greater honor throughout his journey. Jason has courage, but Perseus acts in favor of others rather than just himself. He also provides assistance to others along the way (Andromeda) while Jason primarily receives help without reciprocating the favor.

Unknown said...

Perseus is more heroic than Jason because Jason did his quest for self gain, rather than Perseus, who was trying to bring a gift for a wedding. Jason went on his quest so he could become king and gain power, while Perseus went out to prove to the king that he could bring a gift and prove himself a hero. While Jason showed great amounts of courage and strength, desiring to be recognized (a key heroic element), he only went on the quest for his own selfish interest. He wanted the throne for himself. Perseus' journey was to get the gift for his mother's wedding. Perseus' journey pertains to the heroic code through his desire to be recognized and feel worthy.

Anonymous said...


I believe that Perseus is more heroic out of the two heroes. Perseus sets out on his quest for Medusa’s head because he hadn’t brought a gift to his mother’s wedding and he wanted to save his honor, but he also sets out on his quest in order to save his mother from the man she is being forced to marry. Jason however to prove his status to Pelias. While his cause is one of honor Perseus’ is still more heroic because he is on a quest to save his mother. According to the heroic code a hero goes in pursuit of danger and Perseus sets out to kill Medusa he does just that. He overcomes many dangerous challenges in order to complete his quest. Also he had much help from the gods on his journey. Both Athena and Hermes helped him in his travels.

HenryG said...

I believe that Jason is more heroic that Perseus because Jason heroic journey had a purpose. I mean it wasn't much of a purpose but it was more useful then Perseus's journey. Perseus's journey was really him just killing Medusa because his brother ordered it. Jasons on the other hand had some what had a purpose but it was just like fetch this for a king. Really i think the best hero was Hercules.