The Icarus lesson

The Icarus lesson,

Mythology stories are interesting and are remembered for a long time; they are entertaining tales narrated to kids that have deeply embedded lessons. These stories live through generations.

I first heard the story of Icarus when I was probably 9-10 years old. It was told to me by my parents and then in a Moral science class. Moral science was a combination of discipline, instilling values, and teaching how to be virtuous citizens. The narrative engaged with a few short stories and examples of good behavior. Society would be a better place if we had classes on being better versions of ourselves. As society is as good as its citizens. And we are a product of what we learn, imbibe, and follow.

The Icarus phenomenon is one such story,

Icarus was the son of Daedalus, an accomplished inventor who designed a complex labyrinth on the island of Cnossus for Minos, the king of Crete. 

Sometime after building it, Daedalus fell into disfavor with the king of Crete and was condemned to live the rest of his life inside the labyrinth. Even Daedalus could not find a way out of his maze. He and his son were trapped forever.

Being a brilliant inventor, Daedalus designed wings of feathers and wax to escape. In theory, the wings would allow Daedalus and Icarus to fly above the labyrinth and off the island to freedom. 

The father knew the dangers of flying too high as the wax would melt with the sun’s rays, he warned his son. “Son, do not fly too high.” 

Most of us remember the warning of not flying too high, and the other line is forgotten “Son, do not fly too low as the ocean’s waves will make the feathers wet.”

In his zest for flying and the heady power of rising high above the waters escaping the labyrinth, the son an adolescent boy struggled with the advice, and soared higher and higher, ignoring the father’s screams. Alas, he flew too high, as a result the wax started to melt, in a few moments he plummeted to the ground. The father looked down into the ocean and a few feathers were floating on the surface.

This myth is relevant to the youth, that can be heady with power and overlooks the dangers associated with it.

We tend to narrate this tale with only the warning of not flying too high, without the other part, of not flying to low too.

Here lies the exciting detail, flying too low and playing too safe is also dangerous. Nothing new, innovative or a breakthrough was made in the comfort zone. The golden zone is finding the balance that makes us succeed in life.

We need to remember both. 

Written by: Dr.(hon) Farhana Vohra