Greek Mythology in Sun, Moon, and Talia

Sun, Moon and Talia is an Italian fairy tale written by Giambattista Basile in his 1634 book, Pentamerone. It is one of the earliest and more sophisticated versions of Sleeping Beauty, following mature themes of rape, sexuality, infidelity and murder far different from the later and softer versions of the tale (Hallett & Karasek, 2009). In Sun, Moon, and Talia, Basile uses various references to figures in Greek mythology. These references offer sophisticated portrayals of his characters personalities.Through examining these Greek figures, their identity, news report and position in Greek mythology, one can draw parallels among the characters and their plights in Basiles tale. In Basiles story, Scylla and Charybdis are mentioned by the puff when she says to the indexs secretary, Listen, my son, you are between Scylla and Charybdis, between doorpost and the door, between the poker and the grate (Hallett & Karasek, 2009). Historically, Scylla and Charybdis were sea monsters situat ed across one another on the banks of the assign Strait of Messina.Scylla lived in a cave facing the west and was a gruesome sight with twelve feet, six longs necks and heads with three rows of close-set teeth. She would capture sailors from either ship that passed by with each of her mouths. On the cliff opposite her resided Charybdis. Three clock times a day she would absorb and regurgitate the water of the passage creating a dangerous whirlpool (Keightley, 1838, p. 271). The Queens mention of Scylla and Charybdis is grouped with other harsh and narrow conditions.The phrase between Scylla and Charybdis is a Greek idiom utilize to describe two equally perilous alternatives, neither of which can be passed without encountering and probably falling victim to the other. It is used similar to the English idiom between a rock and a hard place. The Queen uses the harsh words to compel the Kings secretary to give testimony to the activities of her husband. some other Greek figure ment ioned in the tale is Medea, daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis. In 431 B. C. Euripides wrote the play Medea in which she is betrayed by her husband Jason when he decides to take another wife. In her depression over her husbands actions, she takes the insane action of murdering her two children And here I quit this theme but I shudder at the deed I must do next for I will slay the children I have bourne there is none shall take them from my toils and when I have utterly confounded Jasons house I will leave the land, escaping punishment for my dear childrens murder, after my most unholy deed. (Svarlien, 2008) The similarities between the Queen and Medea are subtle.While Medea killed her own children out of distress over Jasons new marriage, the Queen ordered the cook to kill the children her husband had with Talia. The themes of jealousy, perfidiousness and infidelity are apparent and are shared between the two women. Finally, Basile mentions Charon, the ferryman of the dead. The sou ls of the deceased are passed on to him by Hermes, and Charon ferries them across the river Acheron into the underworld. In her fit of rage, the Queen ordered the secretary to bring Talia to her so that she may be killed by burning to death in a fire.When confronted with this state of affairs, Talia asked the Queen if she could take the time to remove her clothes first. The Queen agreed and Basile narrates, they were just going to drag her away to reduce her to lye ashes, which they would throw into boiling water to wash Charons knickers with (Hallett & Karasek, 2009). The mention of Charon at this climatic part of the story indicates the gravity of Talias situation. Basile alludes to the brutal end Talia was about to meet. Altogether, Basiles tale offers an early version of the authorised Sleeping Beauty fairy-tale that most readers would be astonished to read.The subtle comparisons to figures from Greek mythology and their relation to his characters personalities create an atmos phere of grave seriousness and complexity. The tale is mature and creates a sophisticated, yet dark atmosphere with its seemingly tragic plot. References Hallett, Martin & Karasek, Barbara (2009). Folk & Fairy Tales 4Th Edition. Peterborough, Ontario Broadview Press Keightly, Thomas. (1838). The Mythology of Ancient Greece and Italy. Whittaker and Co. Svarlien, Diane Arson. (2008). Medea. Hackett Publishing Charon. (n. d. ). In Encyclopaedia Mythica Online. Retrieved from http//pantheon. org/articles/c/charon. hypertext markup language