Victim or Monster?

      When it comes to Greek mythology everyone has a story that made them who they've become. This goes for everyone; villain or hero. One of the infamous villains of Greek mythology is Medusa. The minute anyone hears the name they can immediately see her. The gorgeous woman that was cursed with snakes for hair. However, she wasn’t always like that. 

      Medusa was once a mortal. She had two sisters and they were all gorgeous. Men would look at them and just dream. One day while praying in the Temple of Athena Poseidon saw her. He was entranced by her beauty and raped her. Athena saw this and was enraged. Her love for Poseidon blinded her, causing her to turn her range to Medusa. She cursed the maiden turning her beauty into a weapon. After she was done whoever would look at Medusa would be turned to stone. Sealing her fate of never being loved, or even admired again. 

      No one can blame Medusa for turning bitter after all the years she had to spend in solitude. Her past eventually made her the villain. Eventually Perseus, son of Zeus, came to find her. He ended up murdering her by decapitation. Using his sword to look at her reflection was the only way he avoided turning to stone. Though after her death she still had her weapon. He used her head as a weapon to turn his enemies to stone; before giving it to Athena. 

      Today many view Medusa differently. They see her as a victim. She was attacked, and instead of being helped she was punished. Many look at her as a feminist that turned the patriarchy to stone; or at least a symbol of it. Even in the CW’s interpretation of her she is a victim. Medusa is misunderstood just like everybody else. If anyone was out in her position how do we know we wouldn’t turn into our own king of monster. I mean, every villain has their past, and every hero has their future. 

Works Cited 

Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/medu/hd_medu.htm. 

Regula, deTraci. “Medusa's Curse: Greek Mythology.” ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-medusa-1524415. 

https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvxwax/medusa-greek-myth-rape-victim-turned-into-a-monster