The Myth of the Missing Half

Summary

In Plato's dialogue, the Symposium, Aristophanes presents a playful creation myth explaining the human longing for love. Originally, humans were spherical with two bodies and four limbs, and three sexes existed. However, after attempting to challenge the gods, Zeus split them in two, creating the human form we know today. This separation led to an eternal yearning for their 'other half'—whether homosexual, heterosexual, or lesbian—seeking to reunite and become whole again. This myth explores the universal human desire for connection and completeness in love.

Takeaways

• 😀 Aristophanes presents a light-hearted creation myth in Plato's *Symposium* to explain human nature.
• 😀 Humans were once spherical creatures with two bodies, four legs, four arms, and two faces facing opposite directions.
• 😀 There were originally three sexes: male-male (children of the Sun), female-female (children of the Earth), and male-female (children of the Moon).
• 😀 These creatures were incredibly agile, able to move quickly and perform acrobatic feats, either walking or rolling around.
• 😀 The creatures became too ambitious, attempting to climb Mount Olympus and challenge the gods.
• 😀 Zeus, angered by their arrogance, punished the creatures by splitting them in half, resulting in separate individuals.
• 😀 Since then, humans have been yearning for their other half, seeking to reunite with the missing part of themselves.
• 😀 The splitting caused different sexual orientations: same-sex relationships (male-male or female-female) and heterosexual relationships (one male and one female).
• 😀 Those who find their missing half experience great joy in reuniting, becoming 'whole' again.
• 😀 The myth explains the emotional longing and sense of incompleteness many people feel when seeking love and companionship.
• 😀 This creation myth emphasizes the idea that love is a pursuit of wholeness, and the need for connection is central to human experience.

Q & A

What is the main idea behind Aristophanes' creation myth in Plato's Symposium?

The main idea is that humans were originally spherical beings with two bodies and four arms and legs. They were punished by Zeus and split into two, and since then, humans have been searching for their missing half, the one they were originally connected to.

How did the original humans in Aristophanes' myth differ from modern humans?

Original humans were spherical with two bodies, each having two faces and four limbs. They could walk in any direction, and there were three sexes: male, female, and a combination of both.

What were the three types of original humans according to Aristophanes' myth?

The three types were: one with two male bodies, the second with two female bodies, and the third with one male and one female body.

Why were the original humans punished by Zeus in the myth?

The original humans were punished because they became overly ambitious and tried to climb Mount Olympus to challenge the Gods, which angered Zeus.

How did Zeus punish the original humans in Aristophanes' myth?

Zeus punished them by splitting each spherical being in half, which resulted in humans being separated from their other halves, causing them to long for reuniting with them.

What effect did the splitting of humans have on their relationships?

The splitting caused humans to seek out their missing half, and once they found each other, they formed close, joyful unions, striving to be made whole again.

According to the myth, how did the division of humans contribute to sexual orientation?

The division led to different sexual orientations: those with two male halves became homosexuals, those with two female halves became lesbians, and those with one of each became heterosexual.

What does the myth suggest about human longing for completeness?

The myth suggests that humans inherently long for their other half, a sense of completeness that they once had before being separated, and this yearning is a central part of their nature.

What is the symbolic meaning of the three sexes in Aristophanes' myth?

The three sexes symbolize the diversity in human nature and relationships, with each type representing a different way of being whole, depending on whether they were originally male, female, or a combination of both.

How does Aristophanes' myth explain the human pursuit of love?

The myth explains that the pursuit of love is driven by the desire to reunite with one's missing half, seeking the feeling of being complete and whole again, which is why humans feel a deep longing for love and connection.