Week 2: Mythic Identity

Are you, or have you ever been, a mythic figure? 

I like to believe that each person is a mythic figure in their own life. I mean, shouldn't we all be the heroes, the archetypes of our own stories? Having role models, basically heroes of the modern age, is an experience many of us know and can understand. I think being a role model to someone, say your younger brother or sister, a friend, elevates you to a mythic status, in that you are an inspiration to be better, achieve more, that sort of thing.

I saw other people posting about their names having mythic origins, so I decided to look up my name. As a kid, I was always frustrated by the fact my name was not common enough to be monogrammed on cups, key chains, little knickknacks. I have a memory of my name being looked up at a younger age, and Tessa meant 4th daughter, which is accurate to my life, as well as harvester/sower of wheat, which is not accurate at all. I was always irritated as a child, and this has even continued into college, when teachers assume my name is Theresa, because Tessa is a diminutive of that name.

When I decided to look up my name again, I found this site - Think Baby Names - and entered my name. I found the information I have received during my childhood was pretty accurate. The 4th child reference came from its Greek origins, while the harvester aspect came from English origins. Of course, to find more information, I was told to look at the "Theresa" entry. So I did. Theresa turned out to be Greek in origin as well meaning "late summer", which I found to be ironic because my own birthday is on the winter solstice. I think classifying that as late summer is stretching it a bit.

Still, there is more to a person than their name. In the book "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini, the witch character Angela asks the protagonist Eragon, "Is that who you are or your name?" to which he replied, "Both." In that case, both name and action became Eragon's legend, his myth if you will.

In that same way, I believe my name befits me and it does not. I am a fourth daughter, but I am not a farmer. I take the light hearted fun of summer though I was born on the darkest day of the year. I don't personally pursue to become a mythic figure, but I hope that my presence on my loved ones makes some sort of impact. I hope that I live on through their memories, and if that requires me to be a mythic figure, than I cannot be unsatisfied with such a classification.