The Myth of Aristophanes (The Origin of Love) and Fusion in Steven Universe
Today I was reminded of this wonderful story in Greek mythology called “The Myth of Aristophanes.” It’s about how a single human being used to be composed of two individual souls, having two faces, and four arms and legs. When people were like this, they were truly whole.
However, Zeus and the other Greek Gods feared that with people continuing to exist like this, they’d become too powerful, so he came in with his lightning to split everyone apart. Thus results the concept of searching for a soul mate, and people spending the rest of their lives trying to find their other half. The origin of love.
The musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch tells this story beautifully in song:
Having given a little precursor, I think it’s a lot easier to explain how this story and concept reminds me so much of fusion, with Yellow Diamond representing Zeus and the other Diamonds perhaps representing other Greek gods against these beings staying together.
I think it works even more because just like Zeus, Yellow Diamond also uses her lightning powers to split apart these beings, keeping them from being together. It’s a punishment that dooms people to a fate where they are left alone and powerless. As Plato stated, in this original state where people were permanently bonded together they become ‘lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy’ that has the potential to overcome all barriers.
And I am just really fascinated by the parallel, and how it symbolizes reasons why Fusion is looked down upon. Being together in this form, or being fused, is a state of existence that can be so be fulfilling and inspiring, that the deities who want to remain in power are afraid of it, and go to great lengths to destroy it. Thus, the concept of love emerges from wanting that connection, and wanting to be together, and results in people doing everything that they can to find and keep it. To fight for fusion in Steven Universe terms, and to fight for love.
andulkaphoto
snowghoul
romaincrisis
janainaart
prguitarman
vaporwave
blakekathryn
