The Myth of the Venda

Myth, as Gerard uses the term here, means not just any legendary tale, but a story that preserves some real trace of the foundational murder. The mythological victim may only be wounded or suffer some accident, rather than actually being killed. But he will be in some way isolated from the other characters. He will bear some distinguishing mark, and he will be subject to some accusation of wrongdoing. And we imitate him and it's ritual. We talk about him and it is myth.