Jason And The Argonauts

1. It was interesting that the Argonauts fought against the Dolionan people. The Argonauts “guests from the opposite direction seized her and blew her back until she reaches once more the island of the kindly Doliones” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 39). They fought in “a horrible and unforgiving battle” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 40). I found this interesting because the Dolionan people and the Argonauts were friends and treated each other well. If it was fate for the Dolionan people to die and fate for the Argonauts to kill them; its interesting because both of them don’t deserve such fate. In this case, the gods did not inform any of the people nor did the seer from Argonauts mention that they will brutally kill their friend.
2. The Argonauts helped Phineus by forcing the Harpies away. Iris “streaked out of the sky, and halted them with imperious terms” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 62) to protect the Harpies but spare Phineus from being bothered. The Harpies were placed by Zeus to punish Phineus, however, they were dismissed by another god. Meanwhile, the gods would give oath to the people like a simple contract between a person and landlord. This interaction was interesting because this shows that gods would follow the demands of people and vice- versa. Gods are not as powerful as we expect them to and none of them in this texted used power to bring devastation.
3. In the previous class, we talked about Jason’s leadership vs Heracles’ leadership. We mentioned how in Tao Te Ching, Laozi mentioned that the best leader is not noticeable, then the next best leader is loved, and so on. Our class concluded that Jason’s leadership at the beginning of the journey was rather passive; he would observe and let things settle down by themselves. Especially when Idmon and Idas were arguing, Jason didn’t even attempt to calm them down. In contrast, we noticed Jason’s change in his leadership style. “The heroes, though, remained apart, concealed among the river rushes, strategizing. Jason was speaking, and the men were seated in order bench by bench, in silence, listening” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 106). Jason started to take the leadership role by proposing ideas, uniting thoughts and moral when the group is apart. Previously, we could only notice his passiveness and not voice too many opinions; we could recognize the dynamic contrast between Jason in his inner character development.
   
4. Chalciope and Medea “to help a stranger by weaving schemes behind her father’s back” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 128). Chalciope and Medea were seen as rebellious toward their father, Aeёtes, because they insist on helping Jason to get through his journey. Their kindness was portraited as rebellious, but they were also seen as heroes to Jason. Such picture reminded me of the history of America and how men and women constantly protest against the government to end oppression. Chalciope and Medea were daughters of a king, but they are planning against their father and thus became heroes. I think this portraited the role of female characters as strong, peaceful, and independent. And they had the power to act against the rule, which give them strength.
   

1. Throughout Jason and the Argonauts, fate always dictated a person’s life or journey. Idmon “had foreseen his death in bird signs, he enlisted all the same so that his town would not deny him glory” (Poochigian, 2014. P 6). Later in the journey, he “coughed up blood and shortly died in his inconsolable comrades’ arms” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 83). I don’t quite understand the relationship between fate, free will, and glory. Obviously, Idmon chose to go on the journey himself, but why would he care if his town denies him glory, if it was Jason’s business to start with? Also, does fate control free will, or does glory control fate? Idmon chose to go on the adventure despite knowing his death: this means that fate didn’t not control his free will; he went on the journey for glory instead. But if glory is what he deserves, then he’s fate leads to glory, would that be the reason of his choice? I personally think that the text wanted to show that death should not be feared as part of your fate and the journey is more important. Idmon would be a good example for this. But the fact that he had free will to choose, and it wasn’t a forced journey, he still chose death. This fact puzzles me.
2. Phineus was blinded because “he never paid due reverence to the gods, not even Zeus himself, since he divulged their sacred will too thoroughly to mortals” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 59). Meanwhile, after the Argonauts chased away Phineus’ watchers, he “gave his prophecies and heartfelt blessings to all who came, even the poorest of them, and soothed the woes of many with his art. That’s why the people came and cared for him” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 69). Why would the gods cruelly punish people who brought happiness to their communities? Phineus used his gift to help people, which generates happiness to them. If we assume that some of them would pray to the gods based on the story, then why would the gods oppose happiness of people? This also raises question similar to the previous HUH point, does knowing one’s fate cause them to change their fate, or knowing the truth would count as part of their fate and then their fate would remain the same?
3. Hera and Athena came up with the plan at the beginning of book three to ask Cyprian Aphrodite to ask her to “approach her son and pressure him to sink a shaft into Aeёtes’daughter, drug- adept Medea, so that the girl is struck with lust for Jason. I am quite certain that, with her assistance, Jason will bring the fleece back home to Greece” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 101). Hera and Athena introduced Medea and altered her fate through gods’ interference. Such interference then would determine the journey’s success. Once again, the idea of unchangeable fate is challenged here. The gods adjusted the fate of one person to accompany the fate of the main character; is then fate simply toys of gods? If this is true, and there are goddesses, then why does the fate of women always so unfair compared to men?
   
4. Absyrtus was the son of Aeёtes, but his mother is not the wife of Aeёtes. “Absyrtus, his son, inhabited another of them. Asterodeia, a Caucasian nymph, bore him before Aeёte wed Eidyia, Tethys’ and Coean’s youngest daughter” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 109). Meanwhile, Absyrtus “took to calling Absyrtus ‘Phaёthon’ (the Shining One) since he outshone the other boys his age” (Poochigian, 2014, p. 109). The text was heavily influenced by glory- kings send their beloved sons to Jason’s journey for earn glory for their country. Absyrtus’ mother was Asterodeia, a Caucasian nymph; he was also highly regarded due to his achievements. If glory is so important, why did Aeёtes, the king, treated Absyrtus, a baby born by a nymph, so highly? Despite the fact that he outshone the others his age, can’t they bore another son and raise him more powerful and at the same time have a fully royal bloodline, which would bring more glory to the country?
   

1. Does emotions control fate? Does fate impact free will? Does foreseeing the future change the future or is it part of the future?
2. Athena was a woman goddess. Why does the Argonauts not have a single female character?
   
3. On page 111, the text mentioned “after the slaves had laid the banquet out”. Who are the slaves? Does the text give us enough information on who these slaves are?
   
4. Heracles was alive and helped the Argonauts by providing water and slain the snakes, how would Jason’s character be difference if Heracles was with the Argonauts all along?