Hadestown Reflection
I recently had the opportunity to see Hadestown on Broadway and was blown away by the raw talent of the cast, the ingenuity of the set design, the music, the dancing and most of all, by the powerful connections that the show made between Ancient Greek myths and our world today.
Having read Ovid’s tale of Orpheus and Eurydice as well as the myth of Hades and Persephone in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, I instantly identified the similar storylines and characters. It was fascinating to see the artistic license that was taken in the form of plot changes (i.e. Eurydice was bitten by a viper and tragically killed in the myth, whereas she makes a deliberate deal with Hades to enter the underworld in Hadestown), and modern interpretations (i.e. Hades’ greed and desire for power hinting that capitalistic economic systems are the root cause of climate change, famine, and poverty).
I loved the show for many reasons, but have decided to highlight my top two. First of all, I liked that Hadestown successfully communicated a powerful message to its audience. Secondly, I think the show had the perfect, albeit sad, ending.
Prior to seeing the show, I came across a review which explained that Hadestown was a critique of capitalism and the havoc it can wreak on the environment and its population. I thought this was a clever, contemporary take on the interweaving of these ancient tales. For me, Hadestown’s message was broader than a focused critique of capitalism. It was a more sweeping indictment of the nature of man’s greed and insatiable desire for power. Whether it’s in a capitalistic, communistic or socialistic society, greed and the relentless pursuit of power are the roots of evil and suffering.
Human beings have always been and will always be driven by self-interest, but it is important to balance that instinct with compassion, moderation and wisdom. Hades’ cold, calculating and self-centered demeanor symbolized the greed, callousness and evil that we see all too often in our world today. It is precisely that evil that causes mankind’s pain, injustice, and misery. Hadestown's powerful message is to recognize that unfettered greed is pure evil and is the cause of tremendous heartache and suffering.
Hadestown’s final scene echoes what was said at the beginning of the show — that this would be a sad, sad tale. However, Hermes says that we will tell it (and sing it) again and again anyway! What struck me about these lines was the realization that while these myths were written thousands of years ago, their essence is still potent, moving and relevant today. This is precisely why studying the Classics and trying to understand these ancient works is so exciting. The show concludes by telling the audience (who doesn’t want it to end) that this tragic story will keep being retold. This reminds us that history inevitably repeats itself and that we must always try to learn from, interpret and understand the ancient—-even the not-so-ancient—-past.
