Myth of Atalanta

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Myth of AtalantaAmong the many exciting tales of Ancient Greece is that of Atalanta. She was born to a king who had a great desire to have a baby boy. Since Atalanta was a girl, the rich and mighty king decided to abandon her in the forest. In this tale, readers get to see how Atalanta is initially raised by a mother-bear, growing into a strong girl who can run very fast. She is later on adopted by an old man who teaches her the ways of the people. Her human traits develop while under the care of the old man, and she grows into a morally upright and strong woman who easily wins races against men. Atalanta comes out as a moralistic character because she fights for what she believes is right and takes down anyone in her way.
Atalanta becomes famous as a result of winning every other race that pits her against male runners. Her father who abandons her in the forest hears about her and decides to come for his daughter. Being a moralist character, Atalanta does not object to her father openly declaring that she is a long-long lost daughter and “would now take her rightful place in the palace” (Fairweather and McNicol 2). The king declares that Atalanta will no longer participate in the races, pointing out that given her fame “only the finest of princes will want to marry her, then I will have the heir I have always wished for!” (Fairweather and McNicol 2). Atalanta is not pleased with this plan but being a moralistic character chooses not to show her displeasure openly.

Instead, she convinces her father that only the man who defeats her in a race will have the privilege of marrying her. The two also agree that the men who fail to beat her in a race will have to forfeit their heads.
Having set the tough requirements, Atalanta believes that no man will be dumb enough to try their luck against her. It is written that “Atalanta did not wish to see young men lose their heads” (Fairweather and McNicol 2). This shows that she highly valued the lives of others, a hallmark of morally upright individuals. Despite the tough conditions, many young men come forward to try and win Atalanta’s hand in marriage. But she defeats all of them, and which each defeat many young men have their heads chopped offed. Being a moralistic character, Atalanta is extremely saddened by this needless loss of lives. She weeps and prays to the gods to bring forth somebody who can defeat her in order to bring the killings to an end (Fairweather and McNicol 2).
In conclusion, Atalanta in The Tale of Atalanta stands out as a moralistic character because she fights for what she believes is right and takes down anyone in her way. She does not castigate her father for having abandoned her in the forest as a child and agrees to take her rightful place as a princess. She does not get angry when the king declares that she will no longer participate in races and even suggests a plan that would ensure only the finest man in the land gets to marry her. Atalanta is also saddened by the slaughtering of the young men who fail to beat her in the races and prays to the gods to bring forth somebody who can defeat her.

Work Cited
Fairweather, Ron, and Fergus McNicol. “The Tale of Atalanta.” Scottish Storytelling Centre, 2011