| Greek mythology has influenced generations of writers. The Hercules hero myth has been told and re-told by many different writers, providing inspiration for plot and structure. The influence of the Hercules hero myth can be uncovered in Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story “The Artist of the Beautiful.” Hawthorne's protagonist, Owen Warland, pursues his creation of Perpetual Motion by attempting to create a mechanical butterfly. He faces great odds in the persons of Peter Hovenden, Annie Hovenden, and Robert Danforth. Through analysis of the Hercules hero myth, it becomes apparent that Owen Warland, like Hercules, undergoes a great quest to achieve his goals. The extent of similarity between the Hercules hero myth and Owen Warland's quest present strong evidence that the Hercules hero myth strongly influenced Hawthorne's short story “The Artist of the Beautiful” and that a mythological interpretation of the short story is in order. |
