Among the most interesting and fascinating features of classical mythology is undoubtedly the illustration of monsters in myths. Nonetheless, these monsters cannot be considered to be unique. They tend to fall into distinct classifications which makes them be the same. Monsters are frequently featured characters who are heroes or gods with supernatural capabilities. In mythology, monsters are forced to showcase their monstrousness as a response to situations forced upon them. They act in a specific way to achieve a final objective that is often identified at the onset of the story. Additionally, the end objective often leads to some form of moral themes that may apply to each person. These monsters are often thought to have terrifying features to represent their inner evils. They act as a force that most individuals would not be able to defeat. Therefore, this paper will seek to explore how accurate the statement “in many mythic narratives the monster is a sympathetic figure whose monstrousness is an understandable response to the circumstance forced upon it."

Mythical monsters are often regarded to take hybrid forms such as hybrid animals like the chimera or half-human like the Scylla, Minotaur and the Centaurs. Hybrid monsters combine animal and human elements into one form adding a fascinating angle to classical mythological monster topics (Posthumus Liane p. ). This gives them more identifiable animal features in major roles in classical mythology. These roles are often outlined by the relationship of the animal to the humans for instance as a slave, threat or companion. Additionally, they possess transgressive origins or nature in classical mythology which can be attributed to the hybrid nature of monsters as their form mirrors the character of the monster in many cases.  Huge number of monsters inhabits classical mythology. Frequently, the enemies of heroes with whom in some cases they do resemble. Monsters like heroes mix classifications, blurring divisions and crossing boundaries between the divine and human or animal as well as animal worlds. To better understand how accurate the statement that mythical stories portray monsters  as  sympathetic figures whose monstrousness is a comprehensible response to the situation forced upon them is best to look at the roles that monsters play in classical mythology.

Monsters in classical mythology play various roles. First, they play the crucial role of to be killed. Playing this role has made the monsters to unleash their monstrousness as they try to survive before being killed. For instance, in the classical mythology of Theseus and the Minotaur, it can be noted that this is the most fascinating and tragic myth (Posthumus Liane 1). Theseus is considered as a Greek hero in this story and the Minotaur is one of the terrifying and devastating monsters in the myth. Notably, the Minotaur is a half man-half bull monster whose mother is a queen who  slept with a bull sent by a Zeus (Garcia Britanny .4) The Minotaur unleashed his monstrousness in the Labyrinth that he was confined to and used as means of King Minos to kill and eat his enemies. Being confined in a complex labyrinth made the Minotaur depict his monstrousness as such a complex situation was forced on it (being forced to live in the labyrinth for survival and not to be killed by the King). This proves that the statement is accurate as living in an isolated location made the Minotaur showcase his monstrousness when people are sent into the Crete.

Furthermore, playing the role of killing the Minotaur, Theseus opted to be among the seven young men that will venture into the Crete to kill the monster as well as end the human sacrifices that were being made to it. The act of killing it brought forth the monstrousness of the Minotaur as he killed the men who were long with Theseus before he killed it. Hence, the Minotaur fate is to be killed by Theseus. Furthermore, looking at the classical myth of labor of Hercules it can be deduced that Hercules faces and kills monsters so that he succeeds in serving his twelve years of the sentence (Christie, Agatha, and John Woodvine 13-419).  By being killed, the hydra and the lion, these monsters were able to achieve their primary role of being killed by a hero, Hercules. Notably, these monsters, for instance, the lion unleashed their monstrousness when warriors ventured to kill them but in turn, they were met with death due to their monstrousness. Such cases show that accuracy of the statement that monsters are sympathetic figures that act understandably in response to a situation forced on them.

The role of monsters being subdued by a hero in classical mythology makes them unleash their monstrousness. For instance, the cycle myth of Hercules it can be noted that Hercules subdues Cerberus, the guardian of the underworld and capture of the Mares of Diomedes and the Cretan bull (Bailey Alice.16-22). By subduing and capturing these monsters, the Hercules was able to accomplish his labors/punishments. These monsters had in many occasions had negative affected and caused havoc among the communities that they were residing with. For instance, the Mares of Diomedes monstrousness can be understandable as they forced into circumstances that made them behave in that manner (Christie Agatha and John Woodvine 291). The mares were trained to consume human flesh by their proprietor. Besides, they kept tethered due to them being wild and madness which can be attributed to the unnatural diet that they were being fed to. Such monstrousness behavior can be premised on how they were being treated and fed on human flesh, unlike other horses that well feed on grass.

Monsters as villains are another key crucial aspect that explains the accuracy of the statement as it depicts a circumstance that forces monsters to depict their monstrousness on people. As villains, monsters were regarded to be wild and thus they ought to be eliminated or subdued. For instance, the great monster that ravaged the countryside such as the great bull of marathon and the Caledonian boar was considered to threaten communities’ success that thus they were to be eliminated.  Consequently, monsters monstrousness can be attributed to them fighting back to heroes  invading their world. Thus, their monstrousness can be understood as they are acting as out in a defensive manner in the hope of protecting and safeguarding their world. Case in point is the classical mythology of Medusa whereby she was not a direct threat to a community of the hero. However, in the invasion of Medusa home makes her act monstrously. Additionally, in the classical myth of the Cyclopes who was living in an isolated highland and were no threat to communities but they felt threatened to  make  them  unleash  their understandable monstrousness-they devoured Odysseus men and imprisoned Odysseus (Schein Seth L 2.73-83).

Symbiotic relationship with heroes in classical mythological through the interaction of the core action of myths is another way of understanding monsters. Monsters need to be viewed as anti-heroes hence heroes ought to defeat monsters to become heroes. The achievement of coexistence of heroes and monsters necessitates monsters to act in monstrous ways.  Heroes ought to defeat monsters to become actual heroes and monsters, on the other hand, will have to unleash their monstrousness to remain alive or give the individual a hard to time to become a hero. For instance, when Hercules kills the Nemean Lion and becomes a hero by adorning its skin (Bailey Alice. 52). Moreover, monsters echo the hybridity of heroes as both of them depict some violence which is unleashed through their special powers and capabilities. Monsters use their special abilities for survival thus when they feel that their world is being invaded they lash out through the powers that they have and sometimes this can pose as a threat to communities wealth and wellbeing hence they need to be eliminated. Besides, monsters in classical mythology reflect and mirror the heroes who oppose them as they share some form of important qualities therefore, by acting in monstrous ways forced to reflect the heroes.