I once took an undergrad humanities course in Greek Mythology.

You know the old myth of "Pandora's Box"? (she's given a box that she's not sposed to open and lets all the world's ills out when she breaks down and opens it anyway.)

"Hope" was the last 'imp' to leave the box. Modern readers completely misinterpret the myth by taking this as a good thing!

Ancient Greeks were well aware of the burden of hope. The final imp, Hope, was a malicious, deceptive demon, last out of the box because she was the worst of all. Her role was to lie and to sweetly set gullible humans up to be heartbroken. She was pure evil. The end of the myth is actually quite grim.

The modern interpretation of Hope as some sort of benevolent Tinkerbell that "springs eternal" from Pandora's Box would probably upset an ancient Greek, for they were not as deceived by the little b****!

Great article, thanks! Mike