Spring 2025 · Torch: U.S. · JASON: A DUD AMONG MEN
20
Is there any cast of characters more captivating than the pantheon of the Greek Heroic Age? The likes of Theseus, Perseus, Heracles, and Atalanta remain unparalleled. And of course, I suppose, there’s Jason. As flavorful as boiled potatoes, as independent as a remora; he is the Prince Charming of heroes– utterly useless. Yet he has still been placed amongst these hallowed figures. This begs the question of whether or not Jason should sit upon this stage. The simple answer: I think not.
How does one determine who qualifies as a hero? The qualities of a hero may seem complex but can arguably be boiled down to four key criteria: be of noble birth, slay monsters, complete tasks, and of course possess that classic heroic charm.
Before we delve into our analysis, let us begin with a brief overview of Jason’s Quest: Our story begins with a trope: the evil uncle, Pelias, usurps the throne from Jason’s father, Aeson. Of course, this means that Jason must embark on a quest to Iolcus to reclaim his birthright, unsurprisingly Pelias does not agree, and stacking tropes on tropes sends him on yet another quest to procure the magical Golden Fleece. But far from accomplishing his quest on his own, Jason somehow manages to assemble the Avengers of Greek heroes, otherwise known as the Argonauts. This ensemble of A-listers sets off on a long, formidable journey to Colchis, slaying monsters, dodging obstacles, and completing tasks all to retrieve the Golden Fleece and regain Jason’s kingdom. This is it. This is Jason’s one story. And what role did he play? Let us discuss.
Jason scores one point off the bat on the first criterion. He is the son of a king and thus of royal birth just as Theseus was the son of King Aegeus, Perseus was the son of Princess Danae, and Heracles was the son of Queen Alcemene.
What heroic tale would be complete without some epic monster slaying? As we learned in school, Theseus killed the minotaur, Perseus killed Medusa (whether or not she was a monster is a discussion for another day), Atalanta killed the Caledonian Boar, and Heracles killed the Learnian Hydra, the Nemean Lion, the Eurymanthian Boar, well, let us just say he killed almost anything in sight.
Certainly, one cries, Jason must have killed at least a few monsters during his quest. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but he killed not a single one. This is not to say that no monsters were slain in the making of this myth, only that when they arrived Jason bravely stepped aside and let his cameo-ing buddies deliver the blows. Six-armed giant Gegeines? Good thing Heracles can slay every last one with ease. Angry Harpies? Never fear! Zetes and Calais can chase them away. Minus one point for Jason.
Certainly, Jason can measure up on the soft option — completing arbitrary tasks. Displaying his penchant for repetitiveness, Jason’s entire plan was to go to King Aeetes and ask him nicely for the Golden Fleece. This was surprisingly unsuccessful. Rather much like his uncle Pelias, Aeetes went for the classic fallback of assigning him impossible tasks. Yet again Jason calls in an audible and manages to get the witch-daughter of the king, Medea to complete the tasks for him. From crafting an anti-burn ointment for the fire-breathing bulls to sharing the secret of dragon teeth soldiers Medea was the mastermind. But she doesn't stop there in fact
Medea not only helps him escape Colchis but also reclaim his throne. It isn't looking good for Jason who is now down two points.
Surely, by now, Jason can at least secure one final point and prove he has that “heroic rizz.” How else could he have convinced Medea to do all those tasks if not through his charm? Even here Jason fails again. When faced with King Aeetes’ insurmountable tasks, Jason opts for an almost literal Hail Mary when he seeks the aid of his mentor, the queen of the gods, Hera. Sure enough, someone else saves the day again when Hera uses Cupid’s arrow to make Medea fall madly in love with Jason. Once more Jason loses a point.
With a final score of one Jason simply does not measure up to his heroic comrades. Unlike the tales of Heracles or Theseus, Jason’s is completely defined by the efforts of those around him— his supporting cast, his mommy mentor Hera, and most notably, Medea, whose psycho-maniacal magical interventions make everything possible. Ultimately, Jason’s role in his own myth is more passive than heroic, making him more of a figurehead than a true hero. He may have led the Argonauts, but his leadership was largely a matter of circumstance rather than personal strength or vision. His legacy, unlike those of other Greek heroes, remains remarkably unremarkable—a figure who stands out not for his deeds, but for the glaring absence of them. So when one recounts the heroes of the Greek Heroic Age one should end the list with “last and certainly least Jason.”
JASON:
A DUD AMONG MEN
Calista Kayatta, Saint Mary's Hall, Texas
This begs the question of whether or not Jason should sit upon this stage. The simple answer: I think not.