Short essay on the social functions of Myths

When an individual is born in a society there are many things that accrue to him in the form of cultural heritage. The cultural heritage includes all those elements of culture that a man receives from tradition. Some myths are prevalent in every society.

Many of the myths owe their origin to the beliefs and ideals that are associated with leaders, patriots, national heroes, institutions and individuals. For example, in our own country many myths are current that have originated in connection with Tulsidas, Krishna, Bhishma, and many other famous personalities.

The myths are handed down from one generation to another and the examples set by them guide the people in their day to day business of life. Hence, despite their admittedly imaginative and unrealistic character myths are very important. Besides myths many legends also circulate in society.

The function that these legends perform is much the same as that performed by the myths, viz., lending guidance to people in their life and its various complexities. Every particular society evolves in a definite and unique geographic environment. And the people tend easily to generalise upon the experience that they acquire when they come into contact with Nature.

On the basis of these generalizations the people form all kinds of superstitions concerning Nature. These superstitions, as is evident from their name, are illogical, unreasoned and blind. And yet, many are the activities of the human beings the pattern of which is determined by these superstitions. Similarly, in every society all kinds of proverbs are also circulating, having or gated in the observations of the behaviour of various kinds of individuals, animals, races, etc.

This is also equally true of India, just as much as it is true of any society in the world. In India many of the proverbs and myths originate in the peculiar social system that prevailed here some hundreds of years ago.

Whatever the defect in these proverbs and whatever the element and degree of falsity that they may harbour, they nevertheless do not to quite some extent guide the conduct of many individuals. In this way myths, legends, superstitions and proverbs are received by the individual in the form of his cultural heritage and they guide and formulate his behaviour.

In every society many imaginary stories circulate in connection with the famous and great persons of particular areas or of the society as a whole. These stories do not do much in the way of providing any useful knowledge about the persons whom they concern but they do, to a considerable extent, reflect the beliefs and values of the people concerning them.

In this way, myths do not present factual knowledge but they rather represent the fundamental beliefs of a particular group. As Kimball Young has written, “… as stories and descriptions of an imaginative nature, which provide a group with the meaning of their life and culture. Myths represent the fundamental beliefs, convictions and values of group.” Evidently then, myths are a very important part of the social and cultural heritage. These myths pass to the individual from his family and society.

In the family, the older members communicate these myths to their younger generation in the form of stories. And in times of crises the people have recourse to these myths which guide their conduct.

In their passage through time the -form of the myths is modified considerably. They also form the basis of folk songs. In his book, Myths in Primitive Psychology, the famous anthologist Malinowsky rightly refused to consider myths as imaginary.

In fact, had they been based completely on the imaginary beliefs of the people the myths could not have so credulously stood the test of time and continued in the future. The fact is that various myths arise out of different social conditions and express the religious and cultural beliefs of the society. Fr example, in the Hindu society of India, myths concerning truth speaking have been circulating in connection with Kings Harish Chandra and Yudhishthira.

Myths are not identical with legends. They possess greater degree of truth than the legends. Legends are a form of social myths that are related to some heroes and incidents. Both are part of the cultural heritage, and both help to maintain the continuity of the cultural life of society.

As has been pointed out at an earlier stage, myths are not imagined stories. They have a sound psychological basis. In India, the stories of Hitopadesha are a very important part of the cultural heritage of society. A great majority of the people consider them to be true consequently imitating them. As Kimball Young has written, “With us, as with primitive people, myths are real and actual part of the social cultural environment.

Specific experiences of the group inhere in the myths. They also reflect the interest of the group. They have considerable and profound influence upon the following generations. These successors are attached by them, encouraged by them and led to imitate the examples represented in them. Myths are unique, interesting and even shocking.” According to Malinowsky, they directly express the object to which they relate. Because these myths pass from one generation to another they are only too likely to be distorted and modified during this transition.

One main factor in their impermanence is the fact that they are usually verbally communicated from one to another and hence derive their authority only from the strength of the memory of the person communicating them.

In this connection, the observation made by Kimball Young is only too trenchant, “Memory of past experiences is not an accurate photographic reproduction of perceptions and actions. It is also affected by other images, other perceptions and emotional states and by the lapse of time. The process of forgetting and recalling is as dynamic as perception or any other anticipatory response.”

As has been indicated earlier, myths are born in society and they also mould society. Upon the subject of their importance, C.Kluckhohn has written, “Myths and rituals jointly provide systematic protection against supernatural dangers, the threats of ill health and of the physical environment, anti-social tensions and the pressure of a powerful society.”

Social Functions of Myth

Concerning the importance of myth in society, Kimball Young writes, “Without them the past and the present as well as the future would seem chaotic. With them the world takes new meaning and form and does not need to be constantly recast by or for us. They make our social-cultural reality stable, predictable and capable of being endured.” In this way the myths perform the further function of maintaining the relationship between the past, present and the future. Myths also help to achieve a certain degree of synthesis in the social environment. They induce the feeling of security and ascertain one’s beliefs.

They are also good introduction to culture. They determine the social values that serve to maintain the social control. They also serve to boost one’s morale at times in one’s life that try the soul to the utmost. As these myths are often related to the great people in one’s society they are also an additional source of knowledge concerning these great figures.

Through the influence that they wield upon the children, they maintain the necessary degree of social control. And these children upon growing up do not experience any burden in bearing the control that the society exercises upon them.