The Tanglewood Tales; Europa, the Bull, Harmonia and Cadmus

1

I.

THE DRAGON’S TEETH

EUROPA, THE BULL, HARMONIA, AND CADMUS

AS TOLD BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE IN THE TANGLEWOOD TALES

II. BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

One often hears the stories of Europa & The Bull, Harmonia, and Cadmus the King of Thebes separately despite their interwovenness. An author, Nathaniel Hawthorne weaves them back together in The Tanglewood Tales and entitles it The Dragon’s Teeth.

Nathaniel Hawthorne is an American writer from Salem, Massacheussetes. Hawthorne eventually adds a ‘w’ to his original name, Hathorne. It is to distinguish himself from a prominent judge, John Hathorne, during the Salem witch trials in 1692-3. He enrolls at Bowdoin College in 1821, despite higher education holding only a little of his interest.

After graduation, Hawthorn spends his time at his mother’s home in Salem. It is apparent from his journals that much of his time goes to reading and writing. Soon, Hawthorne writes many different short stories, but when his first attempt at publishing fails, he gives his stories to the fire. He publishes his first novel, Fanshawe, in 1828, anonymously. His friend, Horatio Bridge convinces him to publish Twice-told Tales under his own name and it recieves positive feedback.

Among other things, Hawthorne is most famous for The Scarlet Letter. After a series of successes and moving around, a few years later he writes The Tanglewood Tales. Around the same time, they reward him the position, United States Consul in Liverpool, considering this is one of the most lucrative foreign position, Hawthorne’s life seems to be looking very good. In later years, close to his death, Hawthorne refers to himself as “wrinkled with age and trouble.” He dies on May 19, 1864, leaving some unfinished works.

(Source: http://www.egs.edu/library/nathaniel-hawthorne/biography/)

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Hawthorne)

III. SETTING

1. Time, Place, Condition

In Hawthorne’s telling of the story, there is no specific place mentioned, except for the one instance when Cadmus goes to Delphi, to ask the Oracle of his future. The story begins first in the Kingdom of King Agenor, Phoenicia and moves on when the search for Europa, taken by the Bull, begins. It spans the whole world as her brothers, mother, and dear friend search everywhere for her. Eventually, each of them settle in places of their own. After days months, turn into years, and years, turn into decades, soon the search for Europa appears fruitless and ends.

2. Criticism

Although it is a winding tale, Hawthorne has a way of making it interesting. It is not always easy to keep an audience’s interest. He executes the change of environment and time-lapses artfully, keeping the story lively. One thing which could be a good thing or bad thing is that the story does not venture outside of the characters much, not even just to talk about the environment.

IV. CHARACTERIZATION

1. Protagonist

1. Europa – the little girl that is taken away by the snow-white bull, the pride and joy of the kingdom

2. Cadmus – the eldest son of King Agenor, he only stops his search when the Oracle advieses him so; he envetually becomes the king of a rich kingdom

3. Phoenix – another brother of Europa, Phoenix is the first to give up the search for Europa and settle; he is also the first to become a king out of the four boys that search for Europa

4. Cilix – another brother of Europa, Cilix is the second to wake up to the reality that Europa is lost to them; he is the second to become a king

5. King Agenor – the father of Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix; Queen Telephassa’s Husband; King of Phoenicia; he orders his sons and his wife not to dare return to the kingdom without his sweet, Europa

6. Queen Telephassa – mother to Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix; King Agenor’s wife; she vows and hopes to find her dearest daughter Europa until her last breath

7. Thasus – the children’s playfellow; son of a seafaring person in the neighborhood, he grows up with the royal children and is their intimate friend; he does not give up the search but is hindered when he sprains his ankle and cannot go further; he is true until the very end; he is the the third to become a king

8. The Oracle from Delphi – the oracle is the one that puts Cadmus out of his misery by telling him to give up the search for Europa and start his life

9. The Five Soldiers – they are Cadmus’ faithful subjects that were born out of the ground from the dragon’s teeth

B. Antagonist

1. The Bull – the snow-white bull that kidnaps Europa and never returns her; it is also Zeus in diguise, although Hawthorne’s

2. The Dragon – the dragon that guards the spring of water, Cadmus’ companions drank out of; this dragon easily eats all of Cadmus’ companions in one mouthful; Thankfully, Cadmus is still able to slay this beast

V. PLOT ANALYSIS

A. Exposition

SUMMARY

The story begins with the children playing around on the seashore in Phoenicia. A butterfly distracts Europa’s three brothers and run off into the distance leaving Europa on her own. A snow-white bull materializes out of the sea-foam and although at first it scares Europa, soon she grows fond of it. She starts playing with it and mounts it just as her brothers come back.

The brothers are happy seeing Europa so joyful and the thought of riding the bull next excites them. Something changes after a while, Europa feels fear and soon the bull is running away from her brothers. The three princes, not knowing any better assume it is part of the game, but as they watched the bull carry their dear princess fruther and further from them. They drop to their knees and sob, their dear Europa has been taken away.

ANALYSIS

From the moment the bull enters the picture, the tone and feel of the story shifts to that of uneasiness. Europa, the sweet little girl that she is, apparently unknowingly entices the god, Zeus. The snow-white bull that kidnaps Europa is Zeus. In Hawthorne’s version, it is left to the adult imagination what happens, but from the wording and tone, Zeus takes Europa and rapes her. Also, Hawthorne describes the bull as intelligent and knowing, therefore leading to the conclusion that he goes there fully intending to take Europa. Her kidnapping marks the beginning of the end of her family, because as her bond with her brothers break while she she fades away in the distance, her bond with the rest of her family breaks as well.

B. Conflict

SUMMARY

When the three boys return to the palace without Europa, their father is furious and orders them find her or never show their faces to him again. The news of Europa’s taking devastates King Agenor and brings sorrow to Queen Telephass. The the princes, along with their mother, Queen Telephassa, and Thasus, their dear friend set out to search for Europa.

The search party leaves King Agenor in his thron. After so much time, recognizing any of his children and wife becomes a dream. Cadmus, Phoenix, Cilix, Thasus, and Telephassa, search everywhere for her. Asking over and over againg, “Have you seen a pretty little girl on the back of snow-white bull?” Each time, it is to no avail. The boys grow older and stronger, yet none the brighter.

After years of looking, Phoenix sits down and annouces that he’s given up, while he loves his dear sister, Europa, he concludes that they are following nothing now. Telephassa and the others are understanding, before they leave him, they help him build a home for himself. Before long, a city grows in Phoenix’ spot. His first decree is that should a young girl ever come around calling herself Europa, she shall be treated with the utmost respect and service. The group goes on and Cilix is the next to concede that Europa is never to be with them again. Before they leave him, they help build him a home, just as they did for Phoenix. A city there grows and as king, Cilix’ first decree is similar to that of Phoenix’.

As they continue, Thasus sprains his ankle and considers himself a burden to go on with them, Telephassa and Cadmus understand and thank him for his loyalty and kindess. Cadmus helps him build his home and before long, a city is up. Thasus becomes king because the people sense the traits of leader in him, he too decrees that should someone called Europa stumble onto their land, that she be treated with the utmost care. After that, even Telephassa, although unwilling to admit the loss of her daughter, accepts this as so. Cadmus buries her and continues on his journey, listless and evermore helpless, growing hopeless.

ANALYSIS

At the begginning, there was this certain feeling hopefulness, but it would seem that for both reader and character alike, it was just wishful thinking. If Europa could be found, she should have been found by now. The only characters to realize this were Phoenix, Cilix and Queen Telephassa. Telephassa’s death was like an admittance that her and Europa were meant to meet and be together in the next world.

Unsurprisingly, the first two to ‘wake up’ to the truth that Europa was forever gone, were the ones that never really admitted this to themselves. Both Phoenix and Cilix kept a light on for their sister. This actually shows their love, despite their apparent act of praticality, giving up the search to start their own lives. Thasus on the other hand never ceased to be loyal, either because the search for Europa never left his heart or because it had simply become a part of him. As for Cadmus, his lonely wandering for Europa has completely drained him. Although, it wass obvious that Cadmus’ fate is different and can be assumed, was far greater than the others’ in this story.

C. Climax

SUMMARY

At his mother’s advising, Cadmus set off for Delphi, to see the oracle and inquire about what he should now. The oracle tells him to stop his search for Europa. This throws Cadmus off and so he asks what should he do then. The oracle tells him “Follow the cow! Follow the cow! Where the stray cos lies, there is your home.” Cadmus is doubtful at first, continues to ask of his sister. Soon his words grow fainter and fainter, leaving him murmuring about and people to think of this young handsome man, mentally-ill.

As Cadmus continues his travel, he happens upon a cow. He experimentally follows the cow and concludes that this is the cow the oracle spoke of. Cadmus follows the cow without question and unintentionally gains himself some company. They continue walking and walking until Cadmus’ company grows exasperated. See, the cow is enchanted and so tiring as the journey may be, the people, as well as Cadmus simply could not help but follow the cow.

After some time, the cow stops and the crowd rejoices. Finally, they were going to be able to rest and settle. The people go to gather food and some of them find water. Cadmus hears screaming and arrives at its origins. What he comes face to face to is a dragon. Eating his companions in the mouthful. The dragon is the guardian of the enchated fountain of water. The nearby people know better than to go near the water and have been avoiding it for a long time, leaving the dragon famished. Before the dragon has a chance to eat the prince, Cadmus leaps right into the mouth of the dragon and down to its stomach. Cadmus starts slashing and attacking and eventually kills the beast. A voice says to Cadmus, “Cadmus, pluck out he dragon’s teeth, and plant them in the earth.” He does as the advises him so and gets to work. When he finishes, with the sun shining down on these ‘seeds’, something starts to glisten and Cadmus takes notice.

It starts with just a glistening, then to Cadmus’ surpise, breasplates, armour, helmets, swords, and most of all men start springing out from the earth. These warriors, born off the dragon. There are even trumpeters that spring out along with the warriors. The voice again advises Cadmus, not it tell him to throw a stone into the crowd of men. It hits one warrior and just like that a battle royale begins among these warriors. Soon enough, there are five men still standing. Cadmus approaches them with authority. The warriors recognize and acknowledge this.

ANALYSIS

The advice Telephassa gave Cadmus paid off well, it gave him purpose. The long years of nothing but looking for Europa had robbed Cadmus of his identity. His life only started after he heeded the oracle’s words. It somewhat symbolized his own acceptance of the circumstances.

Cadmus was saved from listless wandering when he finally happened upon the cow that the oracle spoke of. With the gradual growing of his company, his spirit was renewed and for the first time, the future was uncertain yet exciting for Cadmus. When the cow finally settled, he and the crowd rejoiced and excitedly set out to get started. When the dragon ruined this, even when Cadmus had slain the beast, he must have thought what bad fortune he had. It was as if nothing could ever go right for the prince.

The voice that spoke was most likely Athena, aiding the impressive warrior, Cadmus. In return for having followed the intructions of the voice/(Athena), Cadmus acquired a loyal and capable group of soldiers. This marked the true beginning of his great future. Something he probably deserved after everything that’s happened.

D. Denouement

SUMMARY

The five soldiers help Cadmus build the city. After some time, they finisht building the city, Thebes. The soldiers are bloodthirsty warriors though, and so a few mishaps is inevitable. But Cadmus always exercises his authority over the five bloodthirsty warriors. And soon the soldiers realize their affinity to honorable work and an affinity to Cadmus himself.

Soon, a woman comes along and Cadmus’ heart can’t help but rejoice! He is happy to find his dear sister Europa coming to him. As the woman nears him, he realizes his mistake. There is no feeling of familiarity or recognition, alas it is not Europa. The voice even tells him so, but it also tells him that this woman is to complete him and make up for everyone he’s ever lost.

ANALYSIS

Finally, peace for Cadmus. Although rather uneventful, much progress has been made with the city.This part of the story is also the first time Cadmus even thought about Europa again ever since his following of the cow. A good omen of sorts, the mark of Cadmus’ well-deserved ‘happy ending’.

E. Resolution

SUMMARY

Cadmus’ new friend is apparently not just a companion. The woman, now Queen Harmonia, resides with King Cadmus. Not long after this, cherubic little people calling Cadmus, “Father” and Harmonia, “Mother.” They fill the kingdom with their laughs and stories, giving the place life. In the palace and around the kingdom, the five soldiers continue to serve Cadmus and his family. The soldiers grow enamoured by the little princes and princesses. The little princes and princesses learning something from the former bloodthirsty warriors.

Of course Cadmus, being the father and king always finds time to set his children aside to teach them their basic phoneitcs. Keeping them in check and never letting the soldiers influence them to much. At last, all is well.

ANALYSIS

After Cadmus finally let go of Europa, his life became vibrant. But he wasn’t the only one that had it, at last, nice and dandy. The soldiers had evolved from mindless, ruthless killers to caring guards and loyal subjects. Of course, Harmonia’s role in all this is most vital to how Cadmus finally moved on albeit her late apperance. The next biggest and amazing changes were the children, that brightened the ending and the lives of the characters. Hawthorne made sure to keep the reader entertained until the end in this part. With his insertion of his commentary on children that ‘do no like learning’ and what Cadmus did for his children. Hawthorne made it seem more like an opportunity to bond that just about learning. This last bit of the story described absolute tranquility for Cadmus and the people around him.

VI. THEME

Hope, acceptance, trust, and loyalty. Nathaniel Hathorne’s story revolves and relies on these four values. Hope is the main foundation of the story. Hope is what’s keeping the heroes either good to move on or on their way to finding their happiness. Acceptance is the tricky thing about this story because even when the heroes ‘accept’ the truth a part of them sits in the corners of their heart. Except for Queen Telephassa and King Cadmus, the others never accepted the loss of Europa.

Trust, another foundation of the story. When King Agenor essentially banishes his family, the heroes do their best to trust each other. But perhaps one of the most significant demonstrations of trust in the story was when Cadmus kind of easily accepts the instructions of the voice and advice of the oracle. Last but not the least, loyalty. This story runs on hope and loyalty. Loyalty, it is what touches the hearts of people. It makes it easier for readers to identify what they can get from this story relating through the displays of loyalty, Thasus, showed loyalty to not only his friends but also to Europa and the Queen, keeping a light on for her in his heart until the story left him and his king dom. The same with Phoenix and Cilix, making one excited for the time that the family, King Agenor, Queen Telephassa, the three princes and Europa reunites.

VII. POINT OF VIEW

The story is in the eyes of a knowledgable witness of the events. Sounding as if he/she either studied these characters or was witness to the events that he/she tells. This is probably the only wa to weave these stories together and keep them in connection.

Although an interesting route Hawthorne could have gone on is telling the story through Cadmus or any other protagonist. If it weren’t for the classic nature of the story, a character point of view would have been an interesting read. All in all though, it was effective in coveying emotions and evoking interest.

VIII. INSIGHTS

One of the most relatable things in the story is family. It is what kickstarts the story. Families deal with a lot of things internally, it is one of the most complex yet simple parts of one’s life. King Agenor’s family’s life is rudely disrupted when Europa goes missing. The years of anguish for all involved refelcts how stubborness and harsh words can really make a dent in the family. Although the three princes, the Queen, and Thasus got a somewhat happy ending, they were all separated, never to see the one another. King Agenor, who was left lonely until the day of his death. Conflict in the family cannot be dealt with in on swift motion, it takes a significant amount of hashing it out, which is something a lot of families forget to do these days.

Another thing that is very relevant to people in real life, is the art of acceptance and letting go the story displays. Although the story is a simple, almost children’s story, it has very real and practical decisions in it made by individuals. Usually people wallow in their misery or their past and spend their whole lives off on a goose chase. Everyone except King Agenor exercised this art. Sometimes people are also like King Agenor, refusing to let the truth sink, choosing to push people away. There a lot of little slices of life within this story, and the way Hawthorne wrote it is less intimidating and daunting than mythlogies.

IX.REFERENCES

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE - BIOGRAPHY. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from http://www.egs.edu/library/nathaniel-hawthorne/biography/

Nathaniel Hawthorne. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Hawthorne

About.com Ancient/Classical History. (n.d.). Retrieved January 11, 2015, from http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_dragonsteeth.htm