A brief thought about Hadestown

There's so much more to be said about this, but I figured I'd get it out there and then revisit it later

Acclaimed Broadway musical Hadestown retells the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in a modern, Industrial Revolution-esque setting. Long story short, Eurydice is taken captive by Hades and forced to work in Hell. Orpheus, her lover, descends into Hell to rescue her, so Hades offers him a deal. They can walk out of Hell with no obstacles or interruptions in their way, but Orpheus must walk in front of Eurydice, not beside her. They can't hold hands, they can't speak, and some classic accounts of the myth say that they couldn't even hear each other's footsteps. Orpheus must lead his lover out of Hell with complete faith that she won't abandon him. Eurydice has to follow her lover out of Hell with complete faith that He won't leave her behind or lead her astray. If Orpheus looks back, though, Eurydice will be condemned to eternity in Hell, and Orpheus will never see her again. The bold couple ascend out of Hell until, feet away from their salvation, Orpheus succumbs to his doubt and looks back.

The show ends where it began, as Hermes reflects on the tragedy the audience just witnessed with a reprise of “Road to Hell,” the opening song. He's sung this story many times before. He's seen Orpheus and Eurydice meet, fall in love, and be separated again and again. "It's a sad tale, it's a tragedy" that many of us may be tempted to try to forget, but Hermes keeps singing.

‘Cause here's the thing
To know how it ends
And still begin to sing it again
As if it might turn out this time
I learned that from a friend of mine

See, Orpheus was a poor boy
But he had a gift to give
He could make you see how the world could be
In spite of the way that it is

Even if it breaks his heart every time, Hermes continues to sing the story of Orpheus and Eurydice as a reminder to himself and his audience that, one day, things could be different. Amidst the monotonous sounds of industry that characterize Hadestown’s depiction of Hell, Orpheus sings a song of love and the return of spring to the world above. The “Road to Hell” reprise is both hopeful and somber, mourning Orpheus’s repeated failure but looking forward to the possibility that, one day, if we keep singing his story, he might succeed.

Where Hermes and the cast of Hadestown see a mere hope, though, we as Christians see certainty. Where Hadestown looks forward to the coming of spring and Orpheus and Eurydice’s successful escape from hell, we look to the cross and see that we have already been freed from eternal damnation. Orpheus “could make you see how the world could be in spite of the way that it is,” but Jesus shows us how the world will be, often using the imperfect way the world is right now to show us His perfect purposes.

Orpheus did a better job of leading Eurydice out of Hell than any of us ever could. He certainly did better than I would do. The cast recognizes his courage after the curtain call in “We Raise Our Cups,” honoring him for singing his song not just “when the sun shines bright,” but for singing it “in the dead of night.” Despite his perseverance during most of the journey, though, he eventually failed just feet away from the door. Even with the end in sight, he couldn’t resist the temptation to look back, doubtful that Eurydice would still be following him despite only having steps to go until they were saved. As sons and daughters of Christ, we’re not led by a strong but ultimately imperfect man. Like sheep seeking green pastures and still waters, our Good Shepherd leads us faithfully. As the Psalmist famously wrote: “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4, ESV).