Even though Icarus was doing something only the gods did, he was still a human being, which is something he forgot.“From today’s point of view, Icarus (1975) is the artistically most uncompromising and most mature feature film made by the director. In this way, the hero remembers no matter what their accomplishment or their level of power, they are still a human being. This courageous and admirable humility is maintained when one is serving the world not serving their own self-interest. We see someone that carries great pride in their ability but they also carry with them a healthy dose of humility. He turned away from the rules and characteristics that originally allowed him to fly.

The guidance from his father was no longer important to him. Pride keeps him from drowning in the sea and humility keeps him from burning up in the sun.Īs Icarus experienced flying, something no human had ever done, he allowed the feeling of power to turn his pride and humility into arrogance. Icarus begins by flying between the sea and the sun as his father suggested. The sun represents arrogance which is an exaggerated estimate of one’s own importance. The sea represents humility which is a low estimate of one's own importance. Icarus was flying between the sea and the sun. He continued to fall through the air, until he landed in the sea and drowned. He screamed for help as he began to fall out of the sky with no wings to keep him in flight. The wings began to fall apart as Icarus struggled to maintain flight. The wax holding the wings together began to melt under the heat.ĭaedalus looking up in fear could see what was happening, unable to do anything to help his son. It was then that he began to notice the heat of the sun.

Icarus looked down at his father, who now appeared as a tiny speck floating in the sky. Ignoring his fathers words he continued, higher and higher, believing more and more that he was just like the gods. Now, intoxicated with excitement, Icarus decided to climb higher and higher. Dipping down and climbing back up, tilting from side to side, under and over his father, wind in his hair, sun in his face, the only humans to fly. As Icarus became more comfortable and reflected on the idea that he and his dad were the only humans to fly, a sense of excitement began to grow inside him.

He felt a sense of pride and fulfillment as they flew through the air. Icarus thought to himself how lucky he was to escape with his father. He also warned not to fly too low, which would cause the feathers to get wet with sea water, become too heavy and stop working.įinally the opportunity arose, together they escaped and began flying towards Sicily. Icarus was excited as he thought to himself not only would they escape but he and his dad would be the first humans to fly.ĭaedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high because the heat of the sun would melt the wax that holds the wings together. Icarus and his father waited for the perfect opportunity to escape. So, Daedalus being a genius craftsman managed to create two sets of wings from feathers, held together with wax. God is self existent but man was created to exist. Gods are eternal and immortal while humans are temporal and mortal beings. And there is a big difference between humans and gods in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, humans could not fly, only gods could fly. The plan was to break out of the prison and fly over the Mediteranean sea toward Sicily. The king decides to imprison Daedalus and his son Icarus.Īfter being imprisoned for months, Daedalus decided he and Icarus would escape. The maze would be used to trap a minotaur, half man half bull.Īfter working for King Minos, Daedalus wrongs the king. Daedalus’s job was to create a labyrinth, which is a continuous maze. On the island of Crete which today is the largest and most populous island in Greece, Daedalus and his son Icarus are imprisoned.ĭaedalus was a famous craftsman and was hired by the King of the island, King Minos.

Icarus father