Kevin Zheng, Period 6, 01/09/2024

Kevin Zheng, Period 6, 01/09/2024
Modern Mythology 2024
Literacy and Learning


After exploring mythology for the previous few months, I was surprised to discover that mythology had a lot more connection to the contemporary world. Now after learning of Greek mythology, the class moved on and was introduced to Norse mythology. I learned that in the world of Norse mythology, both men and women are chosen and fated to meet their end in battle. The Gods were no different as even they were not exempt from Ragnarok, a catastrophic series of events that would bring about the destruction of the world and the demise of most of the Gods.

In the beginning, I disliked the concept of Ragnarok. To resist Ragnarok, Odin sought wisdom and knowledge. He also sent the Valkyries to select brave and skilled warriors from the mortal realm who would die in battle and be taken to Valhalla in the afterlife to assemble an army that would fight along in the final battle. Even so, the world and the Gods would ultimately meet their demise. In the end, there is no purpose in struggling when the outcome is the same, so what was the point of Odin’s resistance? There is no meaning behind it. While I continuously questioned these notions within Norse mythology, I slowly came to realize that our world was no different.

With our world undergoing pollution, global warming, climate change, and other environmental pollution, it is also on the path of destruction. At the same time, we too are struggling and attempting to find a solution to avoid the destruction of humanity. We established and enforced environmental laws and regulations. We tried to encourage alternatives. We had our voice and goal heard. However, all that did not make it any better for the world. Despite that, we continued.

We knew that Earth was limited in resources and space. Therefore, we sought beyond the planet, venturing into the vast reaches of outer space. One of the possibilities was Mars. With the billions of humans on the planet consuming up not only resources but also land, projects have been launched in the hope of uncovering more secrets about Mars and its past as well as the possibility that it could be a second habitable home for humanity. Even so, there are still disasters ahead in the distant future, with one of them being the Sun.

In about five billion years from now, the Sun, like any other star, will meet its fate and exhaust all its hydrogen fuel. As it undergoes the phases of star death, the Sun will slowly expand into a red giant. With its expansion, the temperature on Earth will increase and kill off all organisms. Even organisms living in the deep abyss of the ocean will not escape due to the heat evaporating the water on Earth. If by any miracle, any organism survives, the Sun will eventually expand and reach Earth, therefore consuming the entire planet. The further we look into the future, the results are still the same. Even if we succeed in escaping before the Sun reaches the end of its life cycle, the end of the universe is ahead, awaiting the ceaseless advance of time.

The study of Norse mythology has significantly influenced my perception of the concept of fate. The connection between Ragnarok, fate, and the real world has also led me to question further about walking a predetermined path. Why do the warriors seek glory through death in battle? Why does Odin walk the path of resisting Ragnarok? Likewise, why do we continue in search of a new possibility? Why do we persist in seeking ways to escape destruction, even when we exist within the boundaries of the universe fated to die? Why do I ask these questions? Because now, I believe I was mistaken. Maybe there was a purpose to challenging the destination of a predestined path of destruction, and there was a meaning behind everything.





Source:




Wendel, JoAnna. “Will the Sun Ever Burn Out?” Space.com, Mar. 2012, www.space.com/14732-sun-burns-star-death.html.



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