Daedalus And Icarus Literary Analysis

The tale of Daedalus and Icarus has many universal themes weaved throughout its story. The the tale is a Greek myth, but its message is still applicable today. While it has several themes, the main lessons that are to be taken away from it are of humility, living within your limits, and always considering the consequences of your actions. These were relevant lessons in ancient Greece, as well as modern times. There is even a common saying taken from this story, "don't fly too close to the sun".

It is important to know your limits and not take things to the extreme. This is a message that is conveyed in the story of Daedalus and Icarus. If Icarus has listened to his father and not flown to close to the sun, his wings would not have melted. Had he not reached for an unattainable goal, he would still be alive. Some risks are worth taking, but this risk, however, had no positive outcome. This was made very clear by Daedalus but Icarus felt safe, then took …show more content…
Daedalus briefly considered the consequences of building the wings, but decided that it was worth the risk in order to escape. He realized that it could work if they both remained far enough away from the sun that the wax didn't melt and far away enough from the ocean that the feathers did not get damp. He passed this information on to his son, who did not listen. Icarus ended up flying too close to the sun which resulted in his death. This demonstrates that all actions have consequences.

The story of Daedalus and Icarus has lessons that translate to any language, place, or time. The lessons of humility, living within your limits, and consequences are all universal. Even though the tale is old, it was created for a purpose and remains timeless. Like other Greek mythology, it was created to demonstrate that man is intelligent. Misuse of intelligence can lead to our own downfall. This story is a tool to keep whoever hears it humble and

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Summer Assignment: Advanced Placement Literature And Composition Students