Annie Zhao, PD 6, 10/31/23

Topic: Literacy & Learning

Since the age of 8, when I first picked up a Greek Mythology picture book, I have known the story of Medusa to what I thought was the farthest extent. With snakes for hair and the ability to turn men into stone, I took her as the villain she was depicted to be and that was all. Even the famed Percy Jackson novels describe her as a monster who needed to be culled. Later on, I read stories and internet posts that portrayed her as a victim. One who suffered by the hands of Poseidon and received both the blessing and curse that was her snakes and power. I found that description to be much more palpable yet horrifying, especially as I grew older and understood the fears of being a woman.

However, as we delved into Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes, I discovered the truth behind Medusa’s story and character, or rather, her lack of one. I was baffled to find that she wasn’t a villain or a victim, just a simple background character. Of course, in the grand scheme of Greek mythology, she didn’t play much of a role other than being a stepping stone for Perseus, but I always preferred the idea that Medusa was more of a victim than a monster. Her name is famed enough for people to easily create an image of her in their heads and get symbolic Medusa tattoos, so why is it that her existence is traced back to one sentence?

This led me to think of our reading through the feminist lens. After we discussed and learned about critical theories, I now read any material through multiple lenses. With Stone Blind, whenever there is even the mention of a woman, I’m already thinking through the feminist lens, especially because of the historical period the book is set in. Considering the time period, women were constantly belittled, erased, or sexualized. A woman is either a lover, a mother, or a villain. No inbetween. With Medusa, her lack of identity meant that her character had to fall into one of those categories. What I find thought-provoking is the fact that she is depicted as a villain in mostly modern stories. There are many interpretations of Greek mythology yet most of the modern fictional adaptations are those that view her as the antagonist. Shouldn’t the most current portrayals of Medusa be the most multi-faceted? And yet, the fiction, films, and even comics that contain depictions of Medusa do the opposite.

In fact, tons of literature written in the modern day persistently portray women the same way they did centuries before, as one of the three main categories. Two phrases that were trending on social media come to mind; “written by a man” or “written by a woman”. The general consensus is that women in literature written by men are always one-dimensional, either meek and submissive or domineering and mean. Their characters can be encompassed by a single trait or purpose and nothing else. When women are written by women, there’s a significant distinction in characterization. There’s depth, backstories, and motives to the characters, instead of just cliche traits. Medusa is a clear example of a woman written by a man and that is the reason why she remains the antagonist. The patriarchal, sexist views and egotistical apathy of men are the reason Medusa is either just a passing mention or a vicious monster, and why many women in literature have suffered the same fate.