Can you imagine a nation without its own stories and its own myths? I can't! In fact, the power of myths is positive for a society because it gives a feeling of belonging to your nation. Also, it is a way to create a proud and friendly country. "The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is an example of my opinion. This myth is about a dead man who has been found by kids in the sea. During the tale, women and men will fall in love with the one they called Esteban. This unreal beauty will be the cause of an incredible refreshment of the village and of the values of the inhabitants. The themes of judgement and of power of one person for a village are approached in this unusual text. I think that the power of myths in nation building is the base of the nation.
In "The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World", the author makes his story sounds like a hyperbole. In fact, every detail of Esteban is exaggerated to make the magic more present. Describe him like a perfect person gives to the tale a myth part. This part of the story confirms what I just wrote: "Not only was he the tallest, strongest, most virile, and best built man they had ever seen, but even though they were looking at him there was no room for him in their imagination". Because of this literary device, we understand that this man was not a normal one. During our reading, we rapidly realize that he will change the mind of the village. Also, it is clear that someone like him cannot exist in real life. The myth is represented by an impossible existence. This myth (Esteban) helps the village to reborn and to become a big family. That is the importance of myths in nation.
In Quebec City, the myth of the language (we are one of the only province who speaks in French) helps us to be a single nation with the same values. This myth is what makes us unique. In our country, we have a lot of myths (La Chasse-Galerie and others) that we know about and that we love. Our past and our nation building make us proud of what we are and of what we have. Myths give us the opportunity to become a nation, to become unique people and to become a big family. Myths give positive to our nation because with them, we are one. Without them, our history is nothing. As a nation, we cannot survive without our identity. This is what myths create for us.
I strongly think that myths are positive for a society. The beauty of myths is that it makes us related to a family, to a past and to a story. We can agree or disagree about the importance of our myths, but they still build what we are now in terms of a society. Also, myths are told from generation to generation. We, as a society, have the obligation to make them live. They are important and crucial for us. This is why and how it makes us proud of living in our country!
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