During Greece, the deities reward goodness and punish evil. The Greeks' belief in the concept of the cycle of retribution goes from one generation to another. The mythological concept of the cycle of retribution is evident through many modern novels and movies, including the movie Holes and Practical Magic. These movies share similar aspects of the different stories of the House of Thebes and Atreus. In both the myths of the Houses of Thebes/Atreus and modern movies, it is evident that the cycle of retribution affects everybody in the family of either good or bad character. The retribution through succeeding generations does not end until one generation pleases the god who uplifts the retribution.

In the House of Atreus, the family's curse begins when Tantalus' hatred compels him to kill his only son and serve it to the Olympians. Discovering his appalling act, the gods sent him...