Pikachu, we choose you! Er… no, we're totally not playing Pokemon. We're not that nerdy. (Actually, yes we are, and it's awesome.)

When you really think about it, everything that happens in this story is the result of the choices Midas makes.

• Midas chooses to throw Silenus a party, and he gets rewarded with a wish.
• Midas chooses to wish for the golden touch, and he gets owned for it.
• Midas chooses to give up the golden touch, and Dionysus saves him.
• Midas chooses to take a vacation in the forest, and other crazy stuff happens. (No, you didn't forget that part; it's from another story called "Midas Never Learns.")

So everything that happens to Midas is his own fault, right?

And why do we care? Because it's so different from most other Greek mythology. See, Greek characters are usually subject to fate. This means that they have no control over what will happen to them—their choices are made unimportant by their destiny.

But Midas breaks this rule. For better or for worse? What do you think?

1. Why does Midas have free will when so many other Greek characters are guided by fate?
2. Is free will a benefit or a drawback in this story? Why?
3. Why did Midas choose the wish that he did? And why did Dionysus grant the wish if he knew it was a bad idea?