Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "mythology"

Medusa by Jessie Burton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A tragic mythological tale of true humanity and heartbreak.

Hidden from the world in her cave on a secluded rocky island, Medusa feels lonely and isolated and longs for connection.

When a young man, Perseus, moors in the cove beneath the cave, Medusa cannot resist reaching out to him.

Hidden from view, they connect on a deeper level as they share their stories of what led them here, to a fateful day neither could have anticipated.

'Medusa' is a novella by Jessie Burton, based on the Greek myth of the monstrous gorgon with living snakes for hair, one glance from whom will turn you to stone. But this time, the tale is told from the perspective of Medusa herself - a sweet-natured and beautiful young woman, cursed and shunned and having fled from society. Not only a tale of myth and heroism, 'Medusa' is a love story, a coming-of-age story - beautifully written, poetic, almost sensual and musical in its prose.

Spellbinding from the opening sentence to the very last, the story touches on many universal and important themes through the telling of Medusa and Perseus' stories, exploring expectations placed on young women and young men - in how they should look, how they should behave, who they should be; and the masks people wear for the world, often forming in our teenage years. The narrative ponders on the burden of physical beauty; whether it is a blessing or a curse and how others wish to claim possession of it - especially if you are female. We also witness horrific abuse of power; how that can manifest as coercion, control and sexual violence.

Like all the best myths and legends, fables and fairy tales, there are messages and lessons woven into the story - and while they may be as old as time, they still feel fresh and sharp. In 'Medusa', they are heartbreaking, delivering such incredibly important messages, for people young and old alike. Ultimately, this is a story that holds up a mirror and shows us how true beauty comes from deep within the soul, how we all long to be seen and desire to be loved.

A tale of inner strength and overcoming diversity, ‘Medusa’ is a timely and thought-provoking retelling of a timeless tale.



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Galatea by Madeline Miller

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A mythological tale of captivity and vengeance...

'Galatea' is a short story by Madeline Miller, based on the Greek myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who, so horrified by prostitutes, rejects all female companionship and instead carves his own perfect woman of ivory, becoming besotted with her beauty and ultimately praying to the goddess Aphrodite to breathe life into her.

Through the ages the tale has been interpreted in romantic terms; the artist who falls in love with his art and the two lovers discovering blissful existence. Miller turns the story on its head, imagining it from the perspective of the woman (who was originally nameless) who was once made of stone and has found herself conscious and in the possession of her creator, exploring themes of freedom and consent, with implications of misogyny and patriarchal dominance. In fear and desperation, Galatea is moved to act in order to attempt escape, driven to protect her child from the same fate that has befallen her, sacrifice perhaps the only path she has available.

Powerful and moving, 'Galalea' is a beautifully written and tragic short story, one that asks you to look beneath the surface and consider the world from another perspective. This is the first book I've read by Madeline Miller and I shall be eagerly reading her novels in the future!



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