Theseus or Hercules

Essay by jfrenchHigh School, 11th gradeA+, October 1996

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Theseus or Hercules?

Theseus is most worthy of emulation. He was a great hero in Athens. 'Theseus

was, of course bravest of the brave as all heroes are, but unlike the other heroes he was as

compassionate as he was brave.' (p. 159). Theseus also was a man of bravery, intellect

and bodily strength. Hercules on the other hand was what all Greece except Athens most

admired. He was very strong but wasn't too smart. Hercules never thought of the

consequences that his actions would bring about before he followed through with them.

First, Theseus was very strong. He fought many terrible horrendous monsters such

as the Minotaur, '..a monster, half bull, half human..' (p.151), and went on many great

ventures such as the Quest for the Golden Fleece. Theseus showed his great strength in

adventures such as the one with the Minotaur. Hercules was also involved in many great

adventures in which his great strength was shown.

Hercules was much stronger than

Theseus, but Theseus made up for this small loss in other ways.

Second, Theseus was very smart. Because of his great intellect the Athenians,

people who valued thought and ideas, chose him and not Hercules as their hero. Theseus

escaped from the Labyrinth and killed the Minotaur. Neither of these tasks were easy and

required someone with aptitude unlike Hercules. Theseus always thought things through

and made good decisions. Hercules' foolishness was shown on many occasions such as

when he killed his family and his music teacher. Theseus' intellect is one very valuable

quality which makes him more worthy of emulation.

Third, Theseus was very brave. In fact he went on so many great excursions that a

saying grew up in Athens 'Nothing without Theseus!' (p. 149). When it was time for

Theseus to seek his...