Disney’s animated movies are the subject of a variety of theories, and one aboutHerculescompletely changes Zeus’ role in the story, but also makes it more confusing. In 1989, Walt Disney Feature Animation went through the period called the Disney Renaissance, in which the studio went back to producing critically and commercially successful animated movies. Like the movies before them, most of the Disney Renaissance movies were based on fairy tales and legends, and among them wasHercules, directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and released in 1997.
Loosely based on the story of legendary Greek hero Heracles (though for the movie he was given his Roman name),Herculestook viewers to Ancient Greece. The Gods Zeus and Hera welcomed their baby son, Hercules, but Zeus’ brother, Hades, wanted to overthrow Zeus and take over Mount Olympus. After learning that Hercules would be an obstacle, Hades tried and failed to kill him, only making him mortal but allowing him to retain his god-like strength.To regain his place on Mount Olympus, Hercules had to prove himself as a hero– and Zeus might have moved some pieces for that.
Disney Theory Claims Zeus Lost Against The Titans On Purpose (For Hercules’ Benefit)
Zeus Was Absolutely Capable Of Defeating The Titans
Herculesopens with the musical number “The Gospel Truth”, performed by the Muses, who also serve as the narrators throughout the entire movie. The song tells how, many eons ago, the Titans were causing chaos on Earth until Zeus showed up.Zeus used his thunderbolt and powers to defeat the Titansand locked them in a vault, saving Earth. In the rest of the movie, Zeus doesn’t show his powers again until the third act, when Hades unleashes the Titans after stripping Hercules of all his strength so he can fulfill his goal.
Hercules' Biggest Plot Hole Proves Hades Is Really Bad At Being A Villain
As fun as Hades is, he’s pretty incompetent as a Disney villain, as highlighted by a big plot hole in Hercules regarding his plan against his nephew.
Zeus tells a young Hercules he can earn his godhood back by becoming a “true hero”.
When a young (and still skinny) Hercules finally meets his father through a statue at the Temple of Zeus, he tells him he can earn his godhood back by becoming a “true hero”.Zeus doesn’t go into the specifics of itbut sends Hercules to train with Philoctetes. As the story develops,it becomes clear that what Hercules needed was a truly selfless heroic act, which is why he didn’t earn his godhood back after killing the Hydra.
The theory suggests that Zeus purposefully held back while fighting the Titans to give Hercules a chance to become a hero.
Knowing that he needed to get rid of Hercules so the Titans could destroy Earth and he could dethrone Zeus, Hades tricked Hercules into exchanging his strength for Meg’s freedom. However, the deal was broken when Meg was mortally wounded after saving Hercules from a falling pillar, restoring his strength. By then, the Titans had attacked Mount Olympus and taken the gods as prisoners, whileHades trapped Zeus with the help of two Titans. Zeus didn’t fight them, nor did he attempt to break free, which made aReddituser believe he did it on purpose for Hercules’ benefit.
The theory suggests that Zeus purposefully held back while fighting the Titans to give Hercules a chance to become a hero – what better than saving Mount Olympus, the gods, and Zeus himself to prove he’s a hero? Proving himself in front of Mount Olympus’ gods would have left no doubt that he deserved his spot back among them, and with this,Zeus also made sure that Hercules didn’t have to die to prove he was a hero– unfortunately, Zeus’ plan didn’t go as he expected (supposing the theory is correct, that is).
Hercules Could Have Become A Hero Before Saving His Father
Hercules Needed A Selfless Act
Had some of the events in the third act ofHerculesgone differently, Hercules could have become a hero and gone back to Mount Olympus before Hades trapped Zeus. As explained above, Hercules was left without his strength before Hades unleashed the Titans so he would be killed by one of them. Hercules fought the Cyclops until he was almost killed by it, but he still managed to kill the Titan by tying his feet and making him trip over a cliff. Immediately after, the pillar fell and Meg pushed Hercules out of the way.
Had Meg not sacrificed herself and Hercules had been crushed, it could have counted as a heroic death that restored his godhood.
Meg’s sacrifice restored Hercules’ strength, allowing him to fly to Mount Olympus, free Zeus and the gods, and defeat the Titans. However, had Meg not sacrificed herself and Hercules had been crushed, it could have counted as a heroic death that restored his godhood. If not,it’s unlikely Hercules would have survived confronting the Titans on Mount Olympus, which would also have been a heroic death, as he would have died defending Mount Olympus, the gods, and his father.
In The End, Defeating The Titans Didn’t Make Hercules A Hero
Hercules Became A Real Hero After Defeating The Titans
If the theory is correct and Zeus let himself be caught and trapped by the Titans so Hercules could do his heroic act, it wasn’t even worth it in the end. Saving Zeus, the gods, Mount Olympus, and defeating the Titans still didn’t earn Hercules his place on Mount Olympus and give his godhood back, as it didn’t count as a selfless heroic act to whoever had the power to restore his godhood (if not Zeus, then who?). Hercules’ truly heroic and selfless act happened towards the end of the movie after Meg died.
Hercules arrived in the underworld to retrieve Meg’s soul from the River Styx, offering himself in exchange for Meg’s life. Hades agreed, sure that Hercules would die before he could reach Meg’s soul. To Hades’ surprise,this was the heroic act needed for Hercules to get his godhood backand thus his immortality, allowing him to get to Meg’s soul and get out of the River intact. With or without Zeus holding back while fighting the Titans so Hercules could defeat them, that wasn’t going to give Hercules what he wanted.
How This Theory Adds To The Confusion Of Zeus In Disney’s Hercules
Zeus Left Many Questions In Disney’s Hercules
If Zeus went as far as to pretend to not be able to defeat the Titans so Hercules could have a chance, it puts every other action and decision by him under a new lens.Herculesleft many questions that might never be answered, such as why Zeus couldn’t restore his son’s immortality (more so as his brother got rid of it so easily) and why he was so vague about what Hercules needed to do to restore his godhood.Maybe Zeus talked to the Fates before Hercules was bornand learned he would be a hero, but had to go through a couple of hardships first.
The extent of Zeus’ power inHerculesis a mystery, as well as the limits of Hercules as a mortal.
That could also explain why he didn’t set something up way before the Titans’ release so Hercules could return to Mount Olympus, but still doesn’t quite explain why he let himself be defeated by the Titans. The extent of Zeus’ power inHerculesis a mystery, as well as the limits of Hercules as a mortal, as he easily flew to Mount Olympus and met his father to save him, yet Zeus insisted on talking to him through a statue. There are manythings inHerculesthat don’t make sense, but Zeus’ defeat against the Titans is better explained by it being intentional.
Hercules
Hercules follows the journey of the titular character, the son of Zeus, as he embarks on a quest to prove himself a true hero after being turned mortal by Hades. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the film is a blend of mythology and animation.
