Butler University Digital Commons @ Butler University Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection Undergraduate Scholarship 2014 The Myth Continues in Percy Jackson: A look into mythology and its persistence today Maia Anne Swanson Butler University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/ugtheses Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, and the Comparative Literature Commons Recommended Citation Swanson, Maia Anne, "The Myth Continues in Percy Jackson: A look into mythology and its persistence today" (2014). Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection. 274. https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/ugtheses/274 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Undergraduate Scholarship at Digital Commons @ Butler University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Butler University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BUTLER UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM Honors Thesis Certification Please type all information in this section: Applicant Maia Anne Swanson (Name as it is to appear on diploma) Thesis title The Myth Continues in Percy Jackson: A look into mythology and its persistence today Intended date of commencement May 10 ----------------------------------- Read,approved,anddn~ ( Thesis adviser(s) !j~ ~ 3/14 J Iii Date U I et "'I :.--;-r") fj ~7 =a r /-" C.l ''',;::; II) r '1 ( .1<---- -LJ CUj I-d)" yL I') Date Reader(s) Ly"./AJ ,E_- h VATI(__. Date Y-IY-'~ Date S-J3-14: Certified by Director, Honors Program Date For Honors Program use: Level of Honors conferred: University Departmental The Myth Continues in Percy Jackson: A look into mythology and its persistence today A Thesis Presented to the Department of Classical Studies College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and The Honors Program of Butler University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Graduation Maia Anne Swanson April 28, 2014 Introduction It is easy for us modern readers to forget that there was a difference between Greek and Roman literary mythology because they were first written down so long ago, yet so closely related. The way we talk about the Greco-Roman pantheon implies that we do not separate the two sets of gods as being unique. Clearly there is a difference between them since they did spring from two unique cultures. The Romans borrowed many things from the Greeks, like their pottery and sculpture and visitations to the Delphic Oracle, but they held a culture of their own that was different from being Greek. That is why using all of these different epics, Hesiod's Theogony, Homer's Iliad, Virgil's Aeneid, and Ovid's Metamorphoses, is so important. Each one incorporates something uniquely Greek or Roman, especially at the beginning of written mythology. Hesiod and Homer were the first ones to write down the mythology of their religion. That being said, I am strictly looking at their works in the context of literature. The stories these authors told were not new stories to the Greeks by any means, but they were told in such a way that we have continued to read them. We all know the basics of Greek myths, like the Trojan Horse and the Minotaur in the Labyrinth, but we still like to read or watch or hear different variations on the tales. Homer and Hesiod knew their audiences wanted a new story. Instead of singing the end of the Trojan War, Homer instead sang about how one man's anger endangered so many. Hesiod also gave a new way of thinking about where the gods came from. The best description is that he was "organizer and interpreter of traditional tales."! For Hesiod it did not matter that Tartarus 1 Graf, p.87 2 spawned so many monsters because it was still their start and it was still about the start of all the tales to come. Move forward about seven centuries and these epic poems are well known. So well known, in fact, that Roman poets have emulated them many times over. Virgil's Aeneid is by far one of the best because he was able to combine Homer's two works, yet make it into a Roman's myth. Aeneas is everything that a good Roman should be; he gives his duty to the gods, is brave and strong, and he is committed to his people and their allies. His story is no less known to the people, but Virgil makes him into a Roman hero. Ovid picks up his mantle soon after, but he is much more interested in the things in the stories of the gods and men together. The Romans already know of the great heroes, but what about all of those other smaller myths involving the gods' interactions with human kind? These myths are about the changes to the world and the gods committing some of them to the humans. Ancient Greek mythology has been continually adapted - having started with the Romans variations and moving forward to present - because there is something about it that is culturally relevant. We still like the stories about the gods and heroes because there is something within each myth that is relatable to modem thought. Graf states that true myths are told over and over again thus changing through the ages? He believes that myths are meant to change and adapt with each culture they pass through. They are also cultural memories, and each new generation adds a certain memory to them.' Listening to modem students talk about how whiny Achilles can be or how weak Diomedes is is what I mean about adding a memory. Those emotions from men are still existent, but what 2 Greek Mythology, p. 3 3 Religions a/the Ancient World, p. 55 3 they imply about the man has changed. Therefore the earliest poets to write down the myths are exactly that, they are only the first to do it but by no means are they the end. Riordan sees the use of mythology as a way to entertain his readers, but he is also teaching them so much about these two ancient cultures. He is constantly reminding his readers too that America has them to thank for the inspiration for many of its physical structures as well as government (since we do have a democratic-republic, taking the best from each civilization). We have kept the gods alive with our Western thought because the stories have now passed to us to retell and give new meaning to. There are no more heroes that seem as selfish as Achilles or as pious as Aeneas. All of Riordan's heroes are relatable, especially to the young adults Riordan is writing for. On top of that, his gods are just as accessible to the heroes in the story as the ancient Greeks saw them. His stories should not be dismissed simply because they are written for young adults. If anything, they should be exalted in their combinations of simplicity and complexity. Riordan is able to bring in so many of the ancient Greek and Roman myths, without overwhelming the readers, but then on top of that he adds monsters from ancient Eastern cultures (like from the Persian Empire and Egypt). He presents a new type of hero in Percy, one that can be championed by all who read. In a simple view, Percy does not put up with bullies and he always does what is right for his friends and family. In a more complex way, he challenges gods who have done wrongs to their heroes and he defeats the greatest of monsters and Titans. Young adult series always appear simple, but there is a deeper meaning that does not always come through on first sight. Percy puts up with the ordinary challenges of growing up while still being a demigod. 4 There are five novels in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. It is about a young demigod, Percy Jackson son of Poseidon, on his survival from the threats of all kinds of ancient Greek monsters and a war with the Titans of old. Percy is a regular 21 st century kind of kid. He has problems with ADHD and dyslexia, which often lead to troubles with other kids at his many boarding schools. Through it all though, he has his mother, Sally Jackson, whom he can rely upon. That is until he is attacked by the Minotaur and forced to go to Camp Half-Blood, a camp for other Greek demigod children. Percy learns that the ancient Greek gods have moved with Western thought and are now situated in modern day America. He is claimed by his divine father, whom he has never met, the ancient Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. The power of Poseidon is transferred to Percy in a diluted form, meaning he can control almost all the waters of the world with little effort, which helps him survive the same monsters it attracts. There is also the problem of the Great Prophecy, which states a child of the Big Three gods will either be the champion or destroyer ofMt. Olympus. First Percy must go on a quest in order to save his mother and to create peace between his father and his uncles, Zeus and Hades, the Big Three gods. He takes two companions on his quests, his friend Grover the satyr and his newfound ally Annabeth, daughter of Athena. During his quest Percy learns that the king of the Titans, Kronos, is regenerating and Luke, Annabeth and Grover's oldest friend, is helping him from within Camp Half-Blood. Percy, with his strong morals, knows he must stop Kronos, rather than join him, even though the Olympians have not helped him and have blamed him up to this point.