The Price of a Glance-Bulfinch’s Mythology Assignment 8

After all his labor and all his work that one glance cost him everything. He was so persistent and determined but his sloppiness and forgetfulness caused him to ruin all of his hard work. Told not to look back into the underworld at the price of losing Eurydice once again, in anxiousness he stole a glance and looked back toward the realm of Hades and Eurydice was taken away once again. He had a perfect easy chance to save his love from death and he ruined it with that glance. Many people in modern days have these opportunities laid out in front of them but throw it away because of their pride or ignorance or, like Orpheus, anxiety. For example, some people have parents who are very wealthy and lay opportunities in front of their children, but their children in pride and ignorance throw it away. They think themselves better than everybody else and ruin their lives. These stories tell us both what we should do but in many cases such as this, they tell us what not to do. I believe this is a very important message. The consequences of this could be minimal but they could also be catastrophic. People have opportunities others could never dream of and when it comes their time to actually step up to it they cower in fear. Orpheus did not cower in some fear of death but in his sloppiness he failed all the same. He did win her back the first time but the deal was made and Orpheus did not keep his part of it. I have a good successful life laid out in front of me, all I must to is step up and take hold of it, and that’s what I intend to do.