What is the difference between Greek mythology and Disney's rendition of the Hercules story? One change is Hercules' parents. Instead of Zeus committing adultery with a human woman, Disney changes Hercules' parentage to the legally married couple of Zeus and Hera. This takes away Hera's anger toward the child but creates the problem of how Hercules becomes human.
Disney has Hercules drink a magic potion which transforms him into a human, but since he doesn't drink the last drop,Hercules maintains his godlike strength. Disney also has Hercules adopted by a human family instead of being born into it.
Another big change in the film version is the omission of the curse Hera puts on Hercules causing him to lose his mind and murder his wife and children. All these changes are made because of the intended audience - children.
The purpose behind the Greek myths were to teach virtue through using superhuman characters. The characters' weaknesses caused the gods problems, and their virtues helped save them. Since Disney did not follow the story of the Greek myths and isn't teaching children mythology, it should at least stick with the values taught in the tales, because Disney does use the Hercules name. But does Disney do this?
Disney did a reputable job in holding true to the characteristic that Hercules has self-confidence and determination. There's no obstacle he can't tackle. In the beginning of the movie, Hercules questions the value of belonging to society, but after he becomes a hero, he never questions himself again.
There are several things that Disney did not hold true to. First, the Greek Hercules would only fight after a disagreement is certain. In the movie, Hercules lunges into any fight without taking time to assess the situation or even to discover the cause of the conflict.
Second, the Greek Hercules has a bad temper which often results in a fatal outcome. After the rage passes, he shows great penitence and humbly agrees to any punishment. Disney sadly fails to show the virtue of accepting responsibility for one's actions.
In the movie, Hercules accidentally destroys the whole marketplace. He is only remorseful for not being wanted in the town, not for the destruction and misery he caused the townspeople. Disney's Hercules, therefore, does nothing to make up for his mistake. He simply tries to discover his heritage so he won't be miserable.
In the Greek myth, Hercules feels so terrible after he kills his children and wife, he tries to commit suicide. He's stopped by his friend, Theseus, who doesn't believe a man can be guilty of murder when he doesn't know what he's done. Hercules seeks out an oracle. She says he needs to purify himself and that can only be done by penance. She advises him to travel to Eurystheus, King of Mycenae, and do whatever the king orders.
At Mycenae, Hercules receives "The Twelve Labors of Hercules" which he performs diligently for years. In the Disney version, the bad guy, Hades, creates the trials in effort to get rid of Hercules. Hercules doesn't know Hades is out to get him and completes the tasks voluntarily to prove to the world he has super-hero material and to gain fame. There is no sign of penitence for the suffering he caused his hometown, only willingness to fulfill his baser appetites.
In the movie, Hercules decides to risk all humanity so he can save Megara, giving scarcely a thought to the lives which he risks for his infatuation for a girl he's barely met. This is not consistent with the Greeks' Hercules, who feels great sorrow when he takes a human life.
When Hercules does become a "true" hero in the Disney version it's because he risks his life for Megara. Disney claims that risking one's life for someone else makes a hero. Let's look at Hercules' motives for completing such a feat. First, he wants to have fame, and second, he feels empty without Megara. His actions do not show true sacrifice, just a display of a selfish male who'll do anything to achieve his desires.
If Disney would have bothered to take a closer look at what virtues Greek mythology teaches, it could have produced a film promoting admirable characteristics for our children such as: taking responsibility for wrongdoing, making restitution and facing the consequences of behavior.