About the Blog

This blog was created solely for the course CLST 105. Lake Waterloo is a fictitious summer camp so no, you cannot send your misbehaving children to it.

There is a ridiculous number of characters in ancient Greek mythology. (I would know, I took a course on it.) However, there seems to be a trend among some of the myths. 12 Days with Will is based on the 12 Labours that Heracles had to complete in order to become immortal. Although Will's conquests are far from heroic, to him the tasks assigned at Lake Waterloo are probably the hardest things he's ever done. Other deities and heroes that had to complete difficult, or seemingly impossible tasks include Eros, Perseus, and Odysseus.

Will's dad is the CEO of Olympus and this reflects Zeus as the ruler of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Rebecca portrays Hera, who has the power to somehow get her way every single time even though her husband is a powerful being. Will is sent to Lake Waterloo where he is required to obey the commands of Michael, just as Heracles served Eurystheus and was ordered to perform whatever labours he was assigned.

The first 6 tasks are completed at the main campground before the boys are sent to another island for the rest of the tasks. Heracles had completed 6 tasks in the Peleponnese and the other 6 were completed in places around the world. The 9 plots of land that Willl and the other boys must weed symbolize the Lernaean Hydra who has 9 heads and has the ability to regenerate lost limbs. Linda, Alice, and Rachael guarded a box of scarves just as the Hesperides guarded Hera's apple tree. During the 10th task, both Heracles and Will turn to their dad for comfort and guidance. In this retelling of the myth, Cerberus is transformed into three separate wolf heads that Will has to bring back to Michael. At times, the characters from the myths were faced with an impossible task and the gods took pity on them and granted them the power to get through it. Like Athena, Linda aids the protagonist in completing the tasks.

Unlike Heracles, Will doesn't actually die in the end of the myth (although Will feels like he has just come back from the dead). He does, however, join his father at Olympus, as Heracles did when he became immortal.