The Labors of Hercules Beal

In Greek and Roman mythology, Hercules (called Heracles by the Greeks) was considered the greatest hero of all time. Born to Zeus, the king of the gods, and Alcmene, a Theban queen, he inspired the jealousy of Hera, Zeus’s wife. After killing his family in a fit of rage, he was punished with the task of completing 12 impossible labors for King Eurystheus. The first was to kill the fearsome Nemean lion, which Hercules did with his bare hands. The second labor was to kill the nine-headed Hydra; however, because two heads grew in place of every one cut off, Hercules invoked the help of his nephew, who burned each newly severed neck. The third and fourth labors were to capture the elusive and sacred Ceryneian Hind and the Erymanthian Boar, an animal that plagued Arcadia. In the fifth labor, Hercules had one day to clean the Augean stables, which were full of animal dung. He flushed the stables by diverting a river. The sixth labor was to get rid of the Stymphalian birds, fowls with steel-tipped feathers that killed man and beast alike. Then, Hercules seized the Cretan Bull, a wild and fearsome beast that fathered the terrifying Minotaur. For the eighth and ninth labors, the hero captured the flesh-eating horses of Diomedes and then retrieved the belt of Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons. Next, Hercules apprehended the Cattle of Geryon, which were eventually sacrificed to Hera. The 11th labor required him to attain the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, gifts to Hera on her wedding day. Finally, Hercules traveled to the Underworld to catch Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the gates of hell. Once he completed all 12 labors, Hercules attained immortal status and ascended to Mount Olympus.

The legend of Hercules has become symbolic of bravery and a manifestation of what mere mortals can achieve. In ancient Greece, people prayed to Hercules for luck, rescue, or protection. Now, in modern media and literature, Hercules is an exemplar of both physical and emotional strength, demonstrating how an imperfect person can overcome adverse situations. Furthermore, although his 12 labors involve capturing and killing mythical beasts, they have allegorical significance in everyday life. In fact, Hercules Beal’s teacher, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer, notes, “The strangeness of these myths is how often they subtly enact themselves in our lives. But we notice them only when we’re watching closely” (43). Although the boy does encounter animals, the monsters he faces vary. For example, when “fighting” the Hydra, he does not slice the nine heads off a monster but rather comes to terms with his father’s death in the hospital, in which the man was hooked up to nine machines. Hercules the boy is also a hero, battling both physical and emotional beasts as he matures and gains confidence.