The story of King Midas is one that has been told for centuries, captivating audiences with its cautionary tale of greed and the consequences that come with it. According to Greek mythology, King Midas was a wealthy and powerful ruler who had a great love for gold and riches. One day, he was granted a wish by the god Dionysus, who offered to grant him anything his heart desired. Without a second thought, King Midas wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. At first, King Midas was thrilled with his newfound gift. He touched a rock and watched in awe as it transformed into solid gold.
He touched a rock and watched in awe as it transformed into solid gold. He touched a tree, and it too turned into a gleaming gold statue. His excitement and greed grew as he touched more and more objects, turning them to gold.
The Midas Curse
There was pin drop silence for a moment. Then Hosh spoke up.
“He couldn’t even have put them on", he said, "without touching them first. And the moment he touched them, they would have turned into gold.”
“So even if he wanted to wear gloves, he couldn’t possibly have put his hand in them at all, as they are initially flaccid and all crumpled up.”
“It is only when we push our hands into them that our gloves give way and become a good fit around our hands."
"But gold cannot be bent just by flexing our fingers. So our fingers wouldn’t even be able to get in after the glove has been transformed.”
“He could have had a wooden mitten made”, Josh suggested after a moment’s thought, “anything to shield his hands from accidently touching things, including himself.”
“Even if he couldn’t bend his fingers in them, they’d be out of harm’s way. Until he needed them out to make more gold. It would have been much safer.”
“And how would he have washed his potty?” Hosh argued back, “Or scratched himself? No, his gift was cruel. Very cruel to him and to all around him.”
“With this gift, there was no way Midas could have prevented himself from turning everything around him into gold. Nobody around him was safe. Not even his own self.”
“Because you see, he wished that everything he touched to be turned into gold! Not just what he touched with his hands. We can touch with any part of our body. Our whole skin is our sense organ.”
“That means he could never have kissed anyone ever again. Never been able to drink, or eat. Even when he was being fed by others.”
“Midas should have thought before he wished for anything”, Josh hated losing an argument, “We should think before we open our mouths. Right Pa?”
Rosh nodded solemnly at his younger son.
“And Kings are already rich, aren’t they?” Josh continued, “Then why did he want more gold?”
“Cos he was greedy”, Isha was tired after a long day and wanted to go to bed, “He got what he deserved. This story was a lesson to all who are greedy. So, don’t be greedy!”
“That’s certainly one moral of this story that kids have been taught”, said Rosh, “But stories are great capsules of wisdom. The more you dive in them, the more insights you discover.”
“Greed is bad”, Hosh took his father’s cue, “It squeezes the truly valuable things out of life. Only after he lost his daughter and could neither eat nor drink, that Midas learnt what is really valuable in life.”
Rosh nodded. Words of a long forgotten Ghazal, sung by Jagjit Singh, flashed on the canvas of his consciousness. He hummed softly:
ये दौलत भी ले लो, ये शोहरत भी ले लो (Ye daulat bhi le lo, ye shohrat bhi le lo)
भले छीन लो मुझसे मेरी जवानी (bhale chcheen lo mujhse meri jawani)
मगर मुझको लौटा दो बचपन का सावन (magar mujhko lauta do bachpan ka sawan)
वो काग़ज़ कि कश्ती, वो बारिश का पानी (Vo kagaz ki kashti, vo baarish ka pani)
“What do they mean?” asked Josh.
“Take my wealth”, answered Rosh, “take my glory too. It’s ok if you snatch my youth from me. But please return the springs of my childhood, those paper boats, those waters of rain.”
“Life is more precious than money”, Hosh clarified his father’s import to his younger brother, “Only after losing the real things in life, do we understand how precious they are.”
“Only after turning them into gold, did Midas realize what is truly precious. To be able to touch your daughter. Taste an apple. Smell a rose. Gold is pretty, but you can neither smell it, nor taste it.”
“Yea” countered Josh, “But you can buy apples and roses with it. As many as you want. I’d still rather have the power to convert an apple into gold, so I could buy lots more apples with it.”
“And convert your daughter into gold too?” flared Isha, “Human life is worth a lot more than gold. We spend money to keep ourselves healthy. Or haven’t you learnt any lessons?”
“Then why does Pa work so hard for money?” asked Josh, “he’s losing his health for it. Why do they show in movies someone murdering someone else for 10 bucks?”
“Stop arguing”, Isha thundered, “Midas learnt the value of love over gold when he lost his child. The message is that wealth is not the most valuable thing in life. Money can’t buy happiness.”
“People weren’t very smart back then!” Josh retorted. He wasn’t cowed by his mother’s anger. He pressed on.
“He should of wished for gold”, he said, “Instead of wishing to turn everything he touched into gold!”
Rosh stared silently at his younger son and wondered.
‘I stand no chance with him,’ he thought, ‘he won’t learn from us. Like me then, he’ll have to learn at the school of hard knocks. And life ain’t a cheap or lenient teacher.’
‘But he isn’t wrong, is he? What would I have done, if I had Midas’ choice? Was Midas really not smart enough to use his gift?’
‘Could the golden touch have been prevented from becoming the golden tragedy? Could Midas have prevented his boon from becoming the bane of his life?’
‘It may be the answers that provide us solutions and make our lives livable’, he realized, ‘but it is the questions that send us on our quests. Without the power and freedom to ask them, humanity would be nothing.’
“What if Midas wasn’t greedy?” he took a deep breath and suggested, “Life isn’t just black or white. It has many shades of gray. Though not for fools and fanatics, who are always so sure of themselves. But we are neither, are we?”
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“Midas should have thought before he wished for anything”, Josh hated losing an argument, “We should think before we open our mouths. Right Pa?”
He could hardly believe his fortune. However, as time passed, King Midas soon realized that his gift was not the blessing he had thought it to be. When he hugged his daughter, she turned to gold in his arms. His food turned to gold as he tried to eat, leaving him hungry and desperate. King Midas soon found himself isolated and lonely, unable to touch or be touched by anyone or anything. Realizing the mistake he had made, King Midas sought the help of Dionysus once again. The god instructed him to bathe in the river Pactolus, which flowed with golden sands. Desperate to undo the curse, King Midas followed the instructions and, miraculously, the curse was lifted. The moral of the story is clear: the curse of King Midas serves as a warning against the dangers of unchecked greed and materialism. While wealth and possessions may initially bring joy and satisfaction, they can also lead to loneliness, isolation, and the loss of the things that truly matter – human connection, love, and happiness. The story of King Midas and his curse continues to resonate with audiences today, reminding us of the importance of valuing the intangible things in life and the dangers of pursuing wealth at all costs. It serves as a poignant reminder that true happiness and fulfillment cannot be found in the pursuit of material possessions, but rather in the relationships and experiences that give life meaning..
Reviews for "The Tragic Life of King Midas: A Story of Betrayal, Greed, and Loneliness"
1. John - 2/5 - I found "The Curse of King Midas" to be a disappointment. The plot felt weak and predictable, and I felt like I had seen it all before. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to care about what happened to them. The action scenes were poorly executed and lacked any real excitement. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with this film.
2. Emily - 1/5 - "The Curse of King Midas" was a complete waste of time. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, leaving me feeling disconnected from the film. The acting was subpar, with wooden performances that failed to bring any sense of emotion to the characters. The special effects were cheesy and poorly done, making the fantastical elements of the story feel incredibly fake. I would not recommend this film to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2.5/5 - I had high hopes for "The Curse of King Midas," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. While the concept was interesting, the execution left much to be desired. The pacing felt off, with the film dragging on at times and rushing through important plot points at others. The dialogue was corny and cliché, and the lack of character development made it hard to connect with anyone. It had potential, but ultimately, it failed to deliver.
4. Michael - 2/5 - "The Curse of King Midas" was a forgettable film. The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it hard to stay engaged. The acting was mediocre, with unconvincing performances that failed to bring the characters to life. The action scenes were lackluster and lacked any real suspense or excitement. Overall, I found this film to be a disappointing and forgettable experience.