James Bond, Hercules, and Overcoming Chaos

The reason our favorite heroes survive the test of time is the mastery of the original storytelling that is replicated time and time again in various forms. And also the heroes’ relatability to the people viewing, reading, or listening to their tale.

You can choose to be encouraged by the fact that past heroes have encountered the same struggles that we face today and see their ability to overcome. And the deeper meaning in the ways that they achieve this goal.

We want to see our heroes struggle at some point, as we struggle. In fact, we enjoy seeing our heroes flat out fail, or even die at times. I love 2017’s Logan because there was an end to Wolverine’s tale. Finally!

At a certain point it is no longer enjoyable for me as the viewer, armed with the foreknowledge that no peril is too big for our hero to overcome, to continue to invest time and energy into a particular hero. It is the reason Superman has never interested me (I do love Henry Cavill though).

The struggle of mortality is why James Bond is one of my all-time favorite heroes. James Bond is human. James Bond has major flaws. James Bond can do very few meaningful things in the world of espionage on his own.

Juxtapose Bond’s mortal struggle with that of Hercules, another of my favorite heroes. The obvious difference being that Hercules is a demi-god, and Bond can only claim god-like looks (am I right, ladies?!?!).

But Bond and Hercules share similar stories in that they achieve incredible feats only through the aid of others.

Hercules and Bond...What???

Pictured in this ancient vase is Hercules traveling in the golden cup of Helios during his tenth labor - the Cattle of Geryon. He is also seen with the skin of the Nemean lion (first labor), his club with all-seeing eyes, and his bow that allowed him to remain true in his aim.

The golden cup of Helios carries Hercules safely through the unknown of his journey. In this instance, through water - which is constantly a symbol for the unknown, or the call to adventure (see the Frog King). And because water represents the unknown, it is rightly associated with chaos.

Like women.

Ironically, the cup that encircles and protects Hercules is often interpreted as a feminine quality. “Mother bear” is the perfect illustration to drive home that point.

So we see the cup (feminine) guiding Hercules through the unknown waters of chaos (also feminine). And what better guide to lead you through the unknown chaos of the depths of the oceans than a feminine protector?

Next we see Hercules adorned with the skin of the Nemean Lion from his first labor. In ancient times young men were sent out into the wilderness - again the unknown, the call to adventure - to kill a lion with nothing but a spear or bow. Either way, extremely difficult.

This was a tremendous right of passage that would see a village send out a boy that would return a man. The most awkward dry cleaning service of all time.

Hercules also carries the club with the all-seeing eyes. In battle you want a 360 degree view of your surroundings so that you encounter no surprises.

This club allows Hercules access to information that would not be accessible to a normal soldier.

And finally we see Hercules with his bow. Hercules is true to his aim with his bow. In fact, Hercules was granted access to the cup of Helios because of act undertaken with the aid of his bow:

“During his travel through Libyan desert, he became desperate and in anger shot an arrow at Helios, a Titan god of the sun. Impressed by his courageous act, Helios gave him the golden cup which he used to get to Erytheia.”

So while we see Hercules blessed with natural abilities that aid him in his quests (must be nice to be born of Zeus!) we also see a plethora of supernatural aids throughout his story arc.

So how does Bond fit into all of this?

Walther and Beretta as Efficient Friends

James Bond is known throughout MI:6 and the criminal underworld to be an incredible marksman. His weapon of choice: the Beretta 418 or the Walther PPK 9mm.

As Hercules utilizes his bow to stay true in his aim when he must kill, so Bond is true in his aim with his trusty sidearm that rests securely under his left armpit...gathering pit sweat.

It isn’t that Bond is incapable of killing bad guys without his firearm, but it definitely is not as much fun, and it would be immensely more difficult for Bond to achieve his aim without the aid of his Walther.

Becoming a Double-0 Agent

Just as Hercules proved himself in his first labor by killing the Nemean Lion, so did Bond by gaining the two kills necessary to earn his double-0 status. Killing another human being also kills a small part of yourself (not speaking from personal experience or anything). Bond is no exception.

In the incredible black and white opening of Casino Royale (2006), Bond and Dryden are discussing Bond’s first kill:

Dryden

“Made you feel it did he? (sees the truth in Bond’s eyes)

Well, you needn’t worry, the second is”

Bond raises his silenced Walther and fires, cutting off the words before they reach Dryden’s lips.

Bond

“Yes. considerably”

It is understood that killing a man takes its toll on the would-be double-0 agent. It is no small thing.

It is not easy leaving the comfort and wonder of adolescence to step foot into the unknown, new world of adulthood. Bond leaves this experience a changed man.

Q, Moneypenny, and MI:6 as the “All-Seeing Eyes”

James Bond has an incredible advantage over your ordinary soldier, and even fellow spies. He has the aid of fellow operatives at MI:6 headquarters.

Q, or Quartermaster, gives Bond the greatest advantage through the use of Q’s clever gadgets. This has become a staple of the Bond franchise; and even in its absence it is referenced.

Bond appreciates these aids more than anyone, but they are a pure delight to fans of the 007 franchise worldwide. Whether it is whistling a tune to trigger stun gas, an exploding pen, a magnetic watch, or even an invisible, freaking car, fans are enraptured by Q’s gadgets.

And most importantly, were it not for the gadgetry of Q and his colleagues, the world would never have gotten to know 007...because he would die day 1.

*RIP Desmond Llewelyn!

In the latest installments of the Bond franchise we have even seen Eve Moneypenny step out into the field to aid, or shoot, Bond.

But even before this brief time in the field, Moneypenny serves as an invaluable member of MI:6. Who else knows the inner workings of MI:6, M, and Bond like Moneypenny? No one!

Secretary Day, Administrative Aid Day, whatever the heck it is called these days should be changed to “Moneypenny Day!”

The unsung hero of the office is only truly appreciated once they are gone. Let us hope we never have to endure a world without Eve Moneypenny.

M as the Mother Figure

Regardless of whether you grew up with the character of M as a male or female role, it is not a stretch of the imagination to see how the Cup of Helios can represent M in the world of James Bond.

The fact that the Cup of Helios is often seen as feminine does not discount Ian Fleming’s M, Bernard Lee, nor Robert Brown. Men possess feminine qualities as women possess masculine qualities.

In many cultures throughout the world, even today, the women are tasked with raising up their young men until the time where the men of the village will literally come calling for the boy to come out and begin his initiation into manhood.

And thank God for these women. Truly. Without these women, young men would enter the unknown of this world without the ability to pay attention to their surroundings, show some form of compassion to others, and if they are like my mother, how to fight (often unfairly).

M briefs Bond on the essentials of every mission. M protects Bond from the bureaucratic nonsense that so often plagues the international spy game. And M cares for Bond.

And that encapsulates how I have come to view M. And the mother archetype does not change if there is a woman sitting in that office, or a man.

M is the guiding force undergirding every mission that Bond undertakes.

No One is an Island

Bond and Hercules required help to complete their journey through chaos time and time again. Bond from the government (don’t read into that too much), and Hercules from the gods.

And that is OK.

Imagine Bond defeating Auric Goldfinger without the aid of M, Q, and the United States military pretending to be asleep.

Imagine Hercules' efforts to defeat the Lernean Hydra without the aid of his nephew, Iolaus.

We find similarities with these heroes in more ways than we often realize. We pay the price of admission for the action, girls, and cars (or chariot for Hercules); but we stay because we see our own desires and our own struggles navigating this chaotic world projected onto the big screen.

And we know that others are sticking around for the same reason! There is a great sense of community in these actions.

It is comforting to know that despite the struggles of our heroes, they continue on in spite of these struggles. Genuine heroes never stop because of them.

“So then you encounter chaos, and then you can regard yourself as the sort of entity that, despite its insufficiency, has the capability to conquer chaos—despite the danger of that. That’s the other thing. The fact that you’re fragile is actually a precondition for your heroism. If you weren’t fragile, there wouldn’t be anything heroic about doing something difficult, right? If you couldn’t be hurt, damaged, defeated, or end up in failure, then where’s the moral courage in the endeavor? It has to be that the fragility is built into the courage. It’s not a reason not to engage in it, at all. In fact, quite the contrary.”

• Jordan Peterson, ‘Biblical Series VII: Walking with God: Noah and the Flood’