Many works of literature feature characters who have been given a literal or figurative gift. The gift may be an object, or it may be a quality such as uncommon beauty, significant social position, great mental or imaginative faculties, or extraordinary physical powers. Yet this gift is often also a burden or a handicap. Select a character from a novel, epic, or play who has been given a gift that is both an advantage and a problem. Then write a well-developed essay analyzing the complex nature of the gift and how the gift contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

King Midas is a character in Greek mythology who had a great desire to possess the touch of gold, which would transform everything she touched into gold. Understand, this king already had enough gold to live a good life, however, due to greed, he asks Bacchus, the god of wine, to grant him this wish, which Bacchus promptly allowed.

Transforming everything he touches into gold was a great gift for the king who managed to increase his wealth in a grandiose way, however that gift came with a curse. Midas could not touch anything that did not turn to gold, including food, water and even his beloved daughter.

The gift and curse of Midas refers to greed and dissatisfaction with the life that an individual leads, even if that life is already good enough. It also shows how the human being is never satisfied and is always searching for more.