Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Why is Hercules an unlikely Disney hero?
One of the most notable points in the Hercules mythos that makes him seem like someone who wouldn't be a Disney hero is that he murders people on numerous occasions. Very early on in the story, he murders his wife and three children in a fit of rage brought on by Hera. Later on, he kills Iphitus by throwing him from the city walls. Disney would not want to portray one of their heroes as a murderer. The other key point is that he has an affair with Iole, the sister of Iphitus, and him not being able to marry her is what causes Hercules to throw him off the wall. This would not reflect well on a "heroic" character, murdering someone over not being able to marry their relative, and it is likely cut from the movie.
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The interesting thing is that the Greek myth excuses Herakles' murder of his own family as an act of temporary madness brought on by a jealous Hera. The murder of Iphitus, however, can only be excused as a crime of passion, at best. In any case, I find it surprising, to say the least, to see someone like this turned into a kids' hero.
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