Book 2: Starcrossed - Use of Myths Overview

Angelini uses myths in a variety of ways. First, there’s the plot. Helen, as well as the Delos family and their nemesis Creon, is descended from gods. The Fates keep pulling her toward Lucas, who should have been named Paris, and implying that they are destined to restart the Trojan War.
Second, Angelini follows certain components of the hero’s journey. As seen in the chart below, it applies to the main parts of Helen’s experience. One part that does not take place at one particular moment but overall throughout the book is that of atonement. The Scions live atoning for the mistakes of their ancestors, and it is only once they have paid their debt – by saving the lives of other Scions – that they don’t see the Furies and aren’t consumed by that hatred for each other. They pay for those mistakes regularly, and not at just at one moment.
Call to Adventure Delos family moves to the island Supernatural Aid Helen discovers her supernatural powers, sees the Furies whenever the Delos family is around, and starts having nightmares Threshold Guardian(s) Lucas Threshold Helen and Lucas save each other from a near-death experience and stop seeing the Furies; Helen learns she is a Scion Acquires a helper Delos family begins to train and help Helen Experiences challenges and temptations Helen trains with the Delos family and develops a relationship with Lucas, but she is unsure of his feelings for her, as he never fully makes a move. Helen learns about the Hundred Cousins and Creon. Has a great revelation at the abyss (death/rebirth) Helen learns about what could happen if she and Lucas get together – they look like Helen of Troy and Paris and could possible restart the Trojan War. They stay apart from one another and Helen masters her lightening skills. They see each other again and decide they have to be together. Goes through a transformation Daphne (Helen’s mother) reappears and kidnaps Helen to tells her about her and their past. Helen prepares to leave the island with Daphne and leave the Delos family and her loved ones behind Returns Daphne proposes collaboration between the two Houses, thus allowing Hector to remain with other Scions, his family to retain contact with him, and the Delos family to keep working closely with Daphne and Helen. Daphne and Jason reveal that Helen is a Descender, and that she is the first one in a millennium.
Third, Angelini uses archetypes. The core one in the novel is the starcrossed lovers. No matter what Helen and Lucas do, they cannot stay away from each other but they cannot be together. At first, they all believe that if they do get together they will essentially restart the Trojan War and bring about the end of Western Civilization. Then, Daphne tells them that they are not the only two families left, so their marriage would not do that. However, she also tells them that Ajax was Helen’s father, making her and Lucas first cousins. Although Lucas’ aunt Pandora points out to Daphne that the date of Helen’s conception is after Ajax’s death – thus making it impossible for her to be a cousin – no one else seems to figure that our or point it out to Helen. In most cases of the starcrossed lovers, though, the lovers end up dead. This book provides a separation from that tradition.
This novel also contains other archetypes. Helen is the main character, but she does not act like most heroes, and it is even difficult to place all of the parts of the hero’s journey to her story in the book. However, she does put others ahead of herself, as seen when she worries that those going after her will hurt the people she cares about to get to her. On the other hand, Creon definitely serves as the villain. He uses his powers of shadow manipulation, as well as his own cruelty and cunning, to undermine Helen. In fact, his shadow powers allow him to remain literally hidden for a large amount of the story other than what Angelini shows the reader.
Along with the starcrossed lovers, these two roles make up the main archetypes in the novel.