Myths have been around since human civilization first
sprouted. Since then myths have been retold and reimagined in countless ways.
In present day, myths are still inspiring stories that now take place in modern
times. Many current authors retell myths in urban settings with updated
understanding of the world. It is fascinating to see myths grow and evolve with
human society.
This week I read Coraline
by Neil Gaiman. In the novel, a young girl (Coraline) discovers another world through
a small door in her flat. The world is a more fantastical version of her own
world, but she soon discovers it is an evil world and the inhabitants have
sinister motives. I cannot help but connect this to the idea of the Underworld,
a concept that that has been around since the first myths were told. Coraline
is lured in by temptation, convinced to stay by deceipt, and is almost trapped
there and killed, her soul being a slave there forever. It is not exact, but it
is very similar to the way the devil character operates in myths, whether it be
Hades in the Underworld or Satan in Hell.
Coraline also
shares some characteristics with Dante’s
Inferno. In both, our protagonists ventures into a dark, sinister
underworld. Coraline was able to do more exploring, but in the end both are
threatened to be trapped and have to escape with the soul of innocent people
who did not belong there. Both escape not by brute force but by using their
wits. It may not be a perfect match but the elements are present in both. It
truly is fascinating to see how a religious work written a thousand years ago
can still inspire story tellers today.
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