Vilnius pedagogical university faculty of foreign languages department of english philology

THE MYTH OF CHIRON IN UPDIKE’S THE CENTAUR

Updike’s The Centaur evoked different attitudes in critics and readers: some of them praised the book while others criticized it sharply. The aspect which shaped and influenced the critics’ view was Updike’s combination of the two plot lines in the book – that of the Classical myth and the modern narrative. The author interweaved the mythological layer with the realistic one and this synthesis provoked a great interest in the book. Despite various reviews, the novel became a best seller and won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1964:


While some reviewers greeted the book as the first evidence of Updike’s willingness to confront the so-called larger-than-life issues, others called it a roman manqué at best and a “sell-out” to the popular fashions of fiction at worst” (John Updike, p.80)

It is crucial that the myth employed by the writer varies from the original, due to the author’s aim to emphasize some points and to omit others. Consequently, it is important to find out what the discrepancy and congruity is according to the original myth and to draw the conclusions concerning their purpose and functions. However, at this point, it is necessary to present the original myth about the centaur Chiron.

According to encyclopedia Wikipedia, the myth about Chiron comes from the Greek mythology. It tells that Chiron was held as the superlative centaur among his brethren. Like
the satyrs, centaurs were notorious for being overtly indulgent drinkers and carousers, given to violence when intoxicated, and generally uncultured. Chiron, by contrast, was intelligent, civilized and kind. He was sired by Cronus, who took the form of a horse and impregnated the nymph, Philyra. As a result, Chiron came from a different lineage than other centaurs, who were born of sun and raincloud. However, Chiron’s mother rejected her son as he was half man half horse.
Chiron was the father of Ocyrhoe, Hippe, Endeis and Carystus with the nymph Chariclo, and they lived on Mount Pelion. A great healer, astrologer, and respected oracle, Chiron was most revered as a teacher and tutored Asclepius, Aristaeus, Ajax, Theseus, Achilles, Jason and Heracles. As the last remaining centaur, Chiron had the gift of guiding his pupils.
His nobility is further reflected in the story of his death, as Chiron sacrificed his life, allowing humanity to obtain the use of fire. Being the son of Cronus, a titan, he was immortal and so could not die. Chiron had been poisoned with an arrow belonging to Heracles that had been treated with the blood of the Hydra, during the assault which once occurred. According to one of the versions of the myth, Chiron could not stand the pain which the poisoned arrow caused, so he asked Zeus to deprive him of immortality and take his life instead of Prometheus, who was then chained to the rock. Ironically, Chiron, the master of the healing arts, could not heal himself, so he willingly gave up his immortality and was placed in the sky. Edith Hamilton wrote in her book Mythology:

“There is a strange story that the Centaur, Chiron, though immortal, was willing to die for him [Prometheus] and that he was allowed to do so. When Hermes was urging Prometheus to give in to Zeus he spoke of this, but in such a way as to make it seem an incredible sacrifice: -

Look for no ending to this agony Until a god will freely suffer for you,
Will take on him his pain, and in your stead Descend to where the sun is turned to darkness, The black depths of death.