Introduction

In this blog I am going to look at several aspects of the Disney movie Hercules.  First, a summary:

The movie begins with five Muses briefly explaining in the song "the Gospel Truth" (seen in the video) the origins of the world and the rise of Zeus.  Next we see baby Hercules with his proud and loving parents, Zeus and Hera, on Olympus.  Here we also meet Hades, Pegasus, and see several other deities. Descending into the Underworld with Hades, we meet the Fates as Hades plots to overthrow Zeus.   Hades sends his minions Pain and Panic to kidnap, turn mortal, and kill baby Hercules.  Their endeavors are interrupted by Amphitryon and Alcmene, who adopt the now-mortal Hercules.  Hercules is so ostracized as a teenager by his peers and community that his parents tell him the truth of how they found him.  Hercules travels to a temple of Zeus, speaks with his father there, and follows Zeus' instructions to find Philoctetes for instruction in heroism.  Philoctetes does so, and when they are testing Hercules' new skills at the end of his training, we meet Megara, a young woman working for Hades who has caught Hercules' interest.  Hercules begins his career as a Hero in Thebes, “a city in turmoil” (Hercules, “The Big Olive – Thebes”) when he defeats the Hydra.  Cue “Zero to Hero,” wherein we see glimpses of his other conquests and the fame he earns. Hades, frustrated that all of his attempts to destroy Hercules have only brought the hero greater fame, decides to send Meg to discover Hercules’ weakness.  Meanwhile, Hercules talks with Zeus and struggles to understand how he is not yet a “true hero.”  Meg convinces him to take a day off from heroism, at the end of which they are both quite smitten with each other.  Hades concludes that Meg is Hercules’ weakness and decides to use her against him.  He tells Hercules that if he gives up his strength for one day, he will let Meg go free and safe.  Once Hercules is out of the way, Hades lets the Titans free from Tartarus and they attack Olympus.  Because Meg is killed in the attack, Hercules’ deal with Hades is broken and he regains his strength, enabling him to save the day.  He goes to the Underworld to fetch Meg back, and in doing so regains his immortality.  Instead of returning to Olympus as is now his right, he chooses to remain on Earth with Meg.