Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Lives of Greeks in the Old Days" by Stephen Dobyns provides a vivid and sardonic retelling of the myth of Theseus and Ariadne, mixing contemporary vernacular and modern sensibilities with the ancient narrative. Dobyns doesn't merely recount the story; he invigorates it with character insights and narrative asides that probe deeper into the motivations and moral complexities of the characters, particularly Theseus.

The poem begins by highlighting the enigmatic nature of Ariadne, questioning her choices and the nature of her devotion to Theseus—a man portrayed here as a rugged, somewhat crude hero, driven more by impulses and pride than by any deeper sense of duty or affection. This Theseus is a man of action, not reflection, who sees problems in terms of obstacles to be overcome with force, whether those problems are people, monsters, or emotional entanglements.

Dobyns describes Theseus’s journey to Crete not as a noble quest but as a practical response to an untenable demand for human sacrifices—a tribute of virgins to the Minotaur. Theseus’s motivation is depicted with a blend of bravado and self-interest; he’s there to stop the tribute but also to enjoy the spoils of his heroism, which Dobyns wryly notes includes the virgins themselves. The image of the Minotaur, not as a fearsome beast but as a lazy hedonist surrounded by "ex-virgins," adds a layer of absurdity to the myth, undermining the usual heroic narrative to suggest a more cynical view of the characters’ motivations.

Ariadne’s role in helping Theseus is crucial, yet it’s treated almost dismissively by Theseus himself. Her intelligence and foresight, which in another telling might be celebrated, become the very attributes for which Theseus abandons her. Dobyns portrays Theseus's abandonment not as a strategic necessity but as a personal choice, driven by Theseus's discomfort with Ariadne's competence and his preference for simplicity over complexity, for ignorance over knowledge.

The pivotal moment of the poem, Theseus's decision to sail away leaving Ariadne behind, is filled with foreboding. Dobyns hints at the tragic consequences of Theseus's actions—not only for Ariadne but for himself and his father, whom he unwittingly drives to suicide by neglecting to change the ship’s sails from black to white. This act of forgetfulness or carelessness is emblematic of Theseus's larger failings: his inability to consider the consequences of his actions, his preference for the immediate over the thoughtful.

Dobyns concludes with a broader philosophical reflection on human nature. Theseus's life is presented as a cautionary tale about the dangers of living "in the eternal present," a life filled with action but devoid of reflection, a life that ultimately fails to outwit the darkness. The poem suggests that while such a life might seem appealing in its simplicity and immediacy, it leads to inevitable surprises and consequences, much like the Minotaur caught off-guard by Theseus. The final lines of the poem paint a poignant picture of Theseus and by extension, humanity: perpetually unprepared, marching into the future driven by a blend of bravery and foolishness.

Through "The Lives of Greeks in the Old Days," Dobyns crafts a narrative that is as much about modern life as it is about ancient myth, urging a reflection on our own lives and the ways in which we confront or avoid the complexities and consequences of our actions.

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