![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
When I was a child, my favorite short-form Greek myth was the tale of Alcestis. I loved both the Odyssey and the Iliad, with Hector, Diomedes and Odysseus being absolute favorite characters, but the strange little story of a woman willing to die for her husband just captivated me. The Alcestis story has many elements that appeal to the young aspiring storyteller-- meddlesome higher powers, some arcane magic, pretty young people in peril, a pretty death scene, hand-wringing, comic relief, and a happy ending. Also, it featured a female protagonist who came off in a more flattering light than any of the male characters, and she didn't have to stay dead for the sake of the moral.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, here is a recap redacted from several different versions of the myth: Admetus is the young ruler of the city-state of Pherae. He is a kind and generous youth who treats his slaves well, which turns out to be a good move because one of his slaves is the god Apollo in disguise (that's a long story in its own right). Apollo reveals himself and rewards his new buddy Admetus by helping him score a beautiful princess, Alcestis. Just when things are going great, Admetus manages to tick off the goddess Artemis, who puts snakes in his wedding bed as a warning shot. But Artemis takes her time enacting the fatal curse, and in the meantime 'Metus and 'Cestis settle down and have some kids. But, in due time, the curse kicks in and Admetus learns that he's going to die. Real soon. This is bad news for Pherae, and Admetus isn't too happy about it either. Ever-helpful Apollo shows up with a great solution-- find someone else to die instead. So Apollo starts canvassing all the good people of Pherae, figuring that it's a no-brainer-- Admetus is such a swell guy that somebody out there will happily go in his place. Funnily, there are no takers, as even miserable old people would rather be old than dead. Finally Alcestis herself steps in and takes the hit for her husband (after extracting various promises from him, like Don't You Dare Inflict An Evil Stepmother On My Babies). And all the good people of Pherae settle down and have a long cry.
And then Hercules shows up and arm-wrestles death to get Alcestis back, because a guy like Admetus who is so darned nice that he shows hospitality to his old drinking buddy with his poor wife lying there dead should get something out of it besides a long and lonely life.
The story has evolved many times over the millennia, with the characterization for Admetus being a sticking point for many dramatists (ie, "How much of a tool should we make this guy?"). Look up any two versions, and you'll see different elements, though Euripides' take on it is probably the definitive dramatic adaptation.
Why, yes, I do think this has something to do with Fire Emblem. Why the look of disbelief?
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, here is a recap redacted from several different versions of the myth: Admetus is the young ruler of the city-state of Pherae. He is a kind and generous youth who treats his slaves well, which turns out to be a good move because one of his slaves is the god Apollo in disguise (that's a long story in its own right). Apollo reveals himself and rewards his new buddy Admetus by helping him score a beautiful princess, Alcestis. Just when things are going great, Admetus manages to tick off the goddess Artemis, who puts snakes in his wedding bed as a warning shot. But Artemis takes her time enacting the fatal curse, and in the meantime 'Metus and 'Cestis settle down and have some kids. But, in due time, the curse kicks in and Admetus learns that he's going to die. Real soon. This is bad news for Pherae, and Admetus isn't too happy about it either. Ever-helpful Apollo shows up with a great solution-- find someone else to die instead. So Apollo starts canvassing all the good people of Pherae, figuring that it's a no-brainer-- Admetus is such a swell guy that somebody out there will happily go in his place. Funnily, there are no takers, as even miserable old people would rather be old than dead. Finally Alcestis herself steps in and takes the hit for her husband (after extracting various promises from him, like Don't You Dare Inflict An Evil Stepmother On My Babies). And all the good people of Pherae settle down and have a long cry.
And then Hercules shows up and arm-wrestles death to get Alcestis back, because a guy like Admetus who is so darned nice that he shows hospitality to his old drinking buddy with his poor wife lying there dead should get something out of it besides a long and lonely life.
The story has evolved many times over the millennia, with the characterization for Admetus being a sticking point for many dramatists (ie, "How much of a tool should we make this guy?"). Look up any two versions, and you'll see different elements, though Euripides' take on it is probably the definitive dramatic adaptation.
Why, yes, I do think this has something to do with Fire Emblem. Why the look of disbelief?
