Maui and Myth

Myth is again seen in the film Moana when Moana arrives at the island on which Maui has been exiled by the gods for stealing the heart of Te Fiti. Upon seeing her, he believes that she is just a shy admirer who has heard the tales of the great demi-god Maui. He introduces himself by outlining all the wondrous things the has done that have benefitted the human race. The tapestry on his skin proved a useful tool in mapping out the victories won to Moana. He tells of how he pushed up the sky, giving man the tides, and sun, and sky, how he stole fire from down below to warm man when nights were cold, how he lassoed the sun to stretch the days, how he harnessed the breeze to fill man’s sails and shake man’s trees, how he pulled the islands from the sea to give man grass and ground, how he killed an eel and buried its guts which sprouted a tree and brought forth coconuts. This recounting of these victories and feets seems to also serve him, as it reminds him of his golden-years before he lost his hook - the source of his powers - and was exiled.