What Was The Difference Between Theseus And The Minotaur

Everybody knows what it feels like to make decisions without considering the consequences first. Whether it be having fun in the hallways or pushing your friend in class, one doesn't think of the consequences until it's too late. In Pandora's Box, this universal human feeling is used when Pandora was deciding whether she should open the box sent by Zeus or if she shouldn't open it, even though she was warned not to. In Theseus and the Minotaur, retold by Common lit, Theseus left Princess Ariadne on another island without thinking of the consequences first, even though she saved his life. In both Pandora's Box and Theseus and the Minotaur, we learn that in life, one must examine the consequences before making a decision.

In Pandora's Box by

Towards the beginning of the myth, we can see how Epimetheus warned Pandora not to open the box, even though it was stunning. Epimetheus says, "'We have reason to fear the gods,' said Epimetheus, 'and also their gifts,' he added, pointing to the casket… 'Keep it well fastened,' said Epimetheus, 'otherwise I shall never rest easy… Promise me one thing. Never open the box. It is, I grant, a beautiful thing, too beautiful to destroy, and we will keep it. But hide it. Put it not only out of your sight but out of your mind. Then we shall both be content'" (Untermeyer 478). Epimetheus warned Pandora not to open the box because he wouldn't rest easy if she did. This is important because, at first, Pandora was curious but understood that she couldn't open the box; otherwise, her husband wouldn't have rested easily. Towards the middle of the myth, Pandora was curious about what was in the beautiful box sent to her by the gods. She also felt she had the right to know what was in the box because it was her dowry. "Pandora restrained her curiosity about the wonderful casket. But with the passing of time she could not help wondering what it might contain. After all, it was her dowry, and she had a right to see what the

Towards the beginning of the myth, King Minos was the ruler of Crete, and all the other rulers feared him because they didn't want to start a war with him. Whenever he asked for men, all other rulers would oblige to his asks and provide men. "King Minos of Crete was a powerful man, feared by the rulers of the lands around him. When he demanded goods or men for his great armies, they felt they had to agree. When he demanded they send Tributes to honour him, they sent them without question. It was the only way they could stop him going to war with them" (1). King Minos asked for men, so the other rulers sent them to him without question to avoid war. King Minos wanted these men for sacrifice so that he could feed his beast, the Minotaur. King Minos didn't think about the consequences of his actions of sacrificing men to feed his Minotaur. Towards the middle of the myth, King Minos asked for more men, but Theseus found out what King Minos was doing and stood up and said he was going to stop him. Theseus said, "'Father, this is terrible,' shouted Theseus, 'we cannot let this go on. We cannot sacrifice any more of our young citizens to this tyrant. When it is time to send the next tribute, I will go as one of them and I vow that it is the last time the Minotaur will be fed with the flesh of any of our people'" (2). Theseus