Jacqueline Yu, Period 1, 1/4/24

Jacqueline Yu
Period 1
1/4/24
Modern Mythology 2024

Literature Circle - Reactionary Playbook of Ariadne by Jennifer Saint (Prologue & Chapter 1 - Chapter 20)

Even before purchasing Ariadne, I was fascinated by the book description and reviews. This one line from the Amazon listing stuck out to me: “Every year its captive, the Minotaur - Ariadne's brother - demands blood.” Frankly, I do not know much about the story of Minotaur, but I suppose that I still wanted to know the implications of being related to such an infamous character. I somewhat impulsively purchased the book, which was surprising to me as the books I usually impulsively purchase are thrillers and true crime novels. The initial reading of the first twenty chapters left me with many questions but longing to read more. I have a tendency to hyper analyze things when given the opportunity to do so which may make this post somewhat lengthy.

Prologue
When I first read the prologue, I was slightly confused, and had to reread it a few times (probably because it was late in the evening). Yet, I was not surprised to see the pattern of a war being provoked in the name of vengeance. King Minos starting an entire war against Athens after not knowing the true cause of his son’s death felt somewhat irrational to me, but I assumed that it was done out of an impulse and in the moment of rage. King Nisus’s daughter, Scylla, fell madly in love with King Minos, which felt eerily familiar to the instances of mortals being cursed by gods. Minos took the opportunity as he saw it, which to me seems like the proper course of action when it comes to winning a war. Scylla would betray her kingdom in order for King Minos to claim victory, only for her to be punished for “her lack of proper daughterly devotion” (2). In a way, I feel like Scylla’s sacrifices could be celebrated rather than shunned. Minos reported to Ariadne on how proud he was to have won the war through toying with Scylla, but I was left thinking why was Minos so proud to have manipulated Scylla? Why have women been toyed with throughout Greek mythology and literature as a whole?

Part I
Chapter 1
During the initial read, I questioned why only Ariadne has the key to the labyrinth her brother is kept in, and not Minos. It felt strange to me how Minos prided himself on the power he has with the labyrinth and Minotaur, only to not have access with the key.

Slightly later in the chapter, like Ariadne, I was curious on why Daedalus specifically gifted a bee pendant with honey. It felt strange since I normally have a negative interpretation of bees, but Daedalus claimed that the pendant could be used to soften people’s will, which felt like a premonition for later events in the story. The same Daedalus had shown infant Icarus the wonders of the world, but the mentions of the interactions alluded to the infamous story of Icarus and Daedalus. So, why did Icarus seek greater heights?

The anecdotes on the interactions between Pasiphae and Ariadne felt heartwarming in a way. It was nice to see how dance was used as a medium for the two to bond. However, the dynamic between Artemis and Orion felt the opposite. Artemis favored Orion, but chose to just watch him die when he was faced with the colossal scorpion. Artemis grieved after his death, which confused me when Artemis had the power to intervene. Yes, Orion’s defeat helped him become a constellation and leave a legacy but I feel like there could have been a different method of doing so that did not require such measures to be taken.

Ariadne described her father to be a righteous man in the prologue, only for her father to make an attempt to deceive Poseidon and keep the bull for himself. Minos was given the opportunity to secure his kingship of Crete and bring honor to Poseidon, but why did Minos choose to be selfish? Minos’s actions would make Poseidon punish Pasiphae for the sins of her husband and make Ariadne fear for her own safety. Why were women always the target of the punishments that are not even entirely directed to them? One blaring thought came to mind–Minos is selfish.

I had read this next bit several hours after reading the first third of part 3 of Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes. Ariadne’s handmaiden, Eirene, told Ariadne the story of Perseus and Medusa for a change of pace. I was initially angry at the fact that the story was used as entertainment rather than letting Medusa be portrayed as her own individual. Yet, it was a necessary depiction that allowed Ariadne and I to realize the blatant similarities between Medusa and Pasiphae, who both were forced to pay for sins that were beyond their control. However, the last paragraph of the chapter did easen my previous anger–I found myself celebrating for the fact that Ariadne was going to stand up against the world if she were to be punished instead of cowering away where I even made a little note saying “you go Ariadne!”

Chapter 2
Is one sin really worth punishing an entire family? The chapter opens with Ariadne describing how she was ten when her Minotaur brother, Asterion, was born. The simple fact that she was ten and was already fearing for her safety felt outrageous to me. Though, it felt nice to read how Pasiphae did not treat Asterion any differently than her other children. Pasiphae and Ariadne treated Asterion as family even though Phaedra and Minos did not. The fact that Phaedra and Minos refused to associate themselves with Asterion was not a surprise, but was still somewhat angering. Even though Asterion was the result of a punishment, Asterion should still be regarded as family. Although, it is still more perplexing how Ariadne sought to nurture her brother; Pasiphae was driven by maternal instinct but what was motivating Ariadne?

Pity seemed to be the answer to this question and the description of the situation as a whole. Pasiphae and Ariadne were left to care for Asterion, where I cannot seem to fathom how Pasiphae’s love for the Cretan bull was truly a punishment for Minos. Ariadne was rightfully angry at Asterion but still managed to care for him. The birth of Asterion seemed to benefit Minos rather than punish him, where the rest of his family suffered the consequences. Did Minos not feel any guilt for his actions? All of Crete despised the rest of his family, all while Minos assumed more power for himself. Asterion would be known as the Minotaur and the work that Pasiphae and Ariadne put into raising him would be disregarded. Once again, I found myself angry when reading how the Cretans called Pasiphae and Ariadne wicked, even though the two tried their best to bring out the human in Asterion as much as possible. It was nice how Ariadne danced to relieve her worries, but should have found another way to handle the situation, as I fear that not thinking about the chaos around her would come back to bite her.

Chapter 3
Once again, women were described as objects used to bear sons, and one (Amaltheia) was even compared to a donkey. Minos was willing to marry his daughters off to kings for the sole reason of acquiring riches for himself. It was slightly strange how Phaedra was eager to escape the eyes of Cretans while Ariadne was content with her life in Crete, amidst the controversies that chastised her. Ariadne’s desire to stay at Crete made me angry at Minos for his disregard towards his family. It became apparent that the voices of Ariadne and the rest of her family would be ignored if it meant that Minos would profit. Ariadne would be sent off to marry King Cinyras but observe the Athenian sacrifices for the first time. The description of the Athenian ship reminded me of the infamous slave ship, where people would be chained as they walk towards their grim fate. However, the Athenian sacrifices were still humanized, which provides a possible sense of hope and hatred towards Minos for toiling with innocent lives.

Chapter 4
As Ariadne watched Minotaur wait for the sacrifices, I was perplexed by the usage of “it”. Minotaur was still Ariadne’s brother and it felt strange for Ariadne to refer to him using “it”. It had only been the third year that Athenians were sacrificed, but Ariadne already disassociated herself with the occurrence and her brother. As an only child, I’ve constantly longed to have a sibling which made me confused on why Ariadne was quick to call her brother a beast that she thought she could tame. I was then appalled by Theseus’s actions as he was given the opportunity to return home, only to volunteer to be sacrificed to Minotaur once again. He felt eerily similar to the other heroes in Greek mythology who were all noble. The description of Daedalus being an unofficial captive made me pity him in a way, where his talents were used as a poison against him.

Chapter 5
I frankly do not have much to say regarding this chapter, even though it seems like a turning point in the story. I do have two questions though–What will happen to Daedalus if Minos finds out? Will Minos chase his own daughter down if she is successful in ruining his source of power? It seems like Minos was meticulous in ensuring that Daedalus would not find a way to ruin the Labyrinth and had trusted his own daughter. In the previous chapter, Minos made Ariadne award Theseus (still against her will) and appeared to think that Ariadne shared the same beliefs. Given the fact that Minos reacted so passionately to the betrayal of Scylla to her father and kingdom, I thought Minos would be more skeptical about his own children, but he seems to care more about his power than his family.


Chapters 6 - 7
Ariadne only sought to challenge the system after falling madly in love with Theseus, which feels like a similar depiction to women in other stories. Theseus was described as a hero who sought to prove himself as the rightful son of the King of Athens, which stood out to me where I often found myself trying to prove myself to others. However, the description of Medea felt different in a way compared to that in Jason’s story. Medea was described as a witch who was the wife of the King of Athens and the cousin of Ariadne. Her crimes were emphasized and her name was stained with blood. When I read the story of Jason and the golden fleece, I pitied Medea in a way as she was the reason for Jason’s success only for her to reap nothing in return. I thought she fled and hid, but apparently Medea sought power for herself. Medea told the King of Athens that Theseus was a criminal, and even tried to kill Theseus so her own son could be the only heir to the throne. So, does Medusa refuse to trust “heroes” after being betrayed by one?

Chapter 8
It felt like Ariadne was put in a difficult situation where she hated her own father’s actions but was expected to provide unwavering support to Crete and her family. She had to choose between doing what is right or for her family, even though Minos is the complete opposite of what a king should be. Theseus and other kings sought to act for the best interests of the people while Minos only acted for himself. It felt strange to see how Minos was so willing to disregard everything if it meant that he would gain more power. Theseus had avenged Androgeus but Minos did not stop Theseus from sacrificing himself. In addition to Theseus as a sacrifice, why were the young sent as tributes? The loss of many Athenians does not entirely equate to the loss of one son, even if it may seem harsh to Minos. The parents of the young would have to pay for sins that they did not even commit and could not seek retribution as they lacked the power to do so. They could only watch as those in power seek revenge. Theseus still did not want to bring war himself but is willing to kill the Minotaur and have Minos bring war upon Athens himself. Yet, it was strange to me how Ariadne and Theseus were so quick to make love, even though it feels like the two are using each other for their own gain. Their plan does not seem entirely feasible to me where it feels inherently flawed.

Chapters 9-10
It seemed bittersweet to read how Ariadne wanted to say her final goodbye to her mother even though she was constantly being watched.

The execution of the plan felt too easy, which was not aided by the fact that Phaedra was delayed. The time Theseus spent in the Labyrinth could have been described more where the build up somewhat fell flat. There was greater emphasis on Ariadne’s struggle to place the club in the Labyrinth which is significant but I feel like the killing of Minotaur could have been elaborated upon, as the Minotaur is Ariadne’s own brother. Ariadne made references to the Minotaur’s original name at times which humanized him in some regard. However, Ariadne was quick to refer to her brother as Minotaur when he was moments away from discovering her.

The killing of Minotaur is a significant event in Ariadne’s life but it was only briefly described; it was accomplished within the first quarter of the book which makes me slightly confused on what the ~300 additional pages have to offer.

Chapters 11-12
Ariadne simply seems gullible–she let love overcome her at the cost of her family, and now possibly her life. I can’t help but to pity her as almost everything in her life was taken away from her; all she has left is the dress that her mother wore. The plan in fact was too easy where Ariadne had to suffer the consequences of her actions and susceptibility. Yet, why is Theseus deemed a hero when he is deceitful? The story felt oddly similar to the story of Jason and the golden fleece, where both “heroes” used their lovers for their own gain and glory. With Medusa becoming a harbinger of chaos, I am curious on what route Ariadne will take, that is if she manages to survive.

Part II
Chapter 13 - Phaedra
Phaedra’s description of Icarus and Daedalus seemed to contrast the other tellings that I had studied in class–Cretans were aware and Phaedra seemed to care. Daedalus’s “genius” made it seem that the plan did not have any risks as he was willing to execute the plan with his son, but Icarus was oblivious. I assume that Icarus was too caught up in the burst of freedom he felt after being held captive, but he should not have acted so boldly and rashly when his only goal should have been to successfully escape.

It was interesting how Phaedra would stay in Crete, while thinking of escaping the island by marrying, even though the original plan was for her to join Theseus and Ariadne on the ship. Phaedra chose to keep watch in order to divert attention from Theseus and Ariadne. Yet, Theseus seemed to be deceptive once again, where he directed Phaedra to the east of the harbor while he would scatter the remains of Minotaur on the west. Pasiphae seemed pleased with the turn of events where Minos’s power took no shape, and her family could have more freedom. However, I feel like the disconnection of the family should not have been the reason behind the checking of Minos’s power and tyranny.

Chapter 14 - Ariadne
There is not much to say, as the chapter is only three pages long. Yet, I’m glad that Ariadne is starting to have some hope, even though she fears that she will turn into a beast herself if she is left on the island any longer.

Chapter 15 - Phaedra
Theseus’s deception is still very appalling–he made up a story to justify Ariadne’s whereabouts, claiming that she was killed by a snake as a result of her betrayal. However, it was interesting to read about Phaedra’s love for her family amidst the claims made by others. Theseus’s story does seem plausible but it is ridiculous when you’re aware of the true context. It is also somewhat ridiculous how King Aegeus killed himself from the thought that Theseus had died in the Labyrinth when he had the power to stop Theseus from volunteering to be a sacrifice in the beginning. The fact that Theseus wanted peace with Crete by marrying Phaedra appears as if Theseus had planned this from the very beginning. Theseus became the King of Athens by forgetting to change the color of his sail and left Ariadne alone on the island of Naxos. He directed Phaedra in the wrong direction, only to request for her hand in marriage.

Chapter 16 - Ariadne
Dionysus’s pursuit to become acquainted with Ariadne on Naxos definitely feels intentional. Dionysus granted Ariadne water, grapes, and wine on the island in preparation for his arrival with the ship. Something did perplex me though–why was Ariande drinking when she was a minor? This does seem like something as a result of the difference in times and cultures though. Yet, why did Dionysus choose to arrive on a ship rather than spontaneously appear on his island? Dionysus claimed to have almost been sold into a life of slavery by the crew on the ship, of which 11 out of the 12 men were transformed into dolphins in front of Ariadne. Dionysus’s language makes it seem that everything was premeditated. Perhaps Dionysus was monitoring Naxos as it is his territory, but his true intentions are unclear to me. Prior to reading part II, I did some research and spoiled the rest of the story for me when I read how Dionysus would marry Ariadne. Why is Dionysus willing to go out of his way to do all of this though?

Chapter 17
Dionysus is strangely kind to Ariadne and I am unsure of what will become of their relationship in the future. Ariadne’s mistrust in Dionysus is warranted, as Ariadne’s life was plagued with it in the past. Dionysus spontaneously appeared this time rather than arriving on a ship, after corresponding with an oracle. I assume that rather than making a “grand entrance”, Dionysus wanted to reassure Ariadne that he would come to her side at any moment of doubt. I do wonder what the Fates have in store for Phaedra. Yet, while reading this chapter, I questioned whether there is a chance that Daedalus had flown over Naxos during his escape. It does seem possible and Daedalus appears to be able to use his intelligence in his foresight but where is Daedalus now?

Chapter 18 - Phaedra
Once again, the story of Theseus feels similar to the story of Jason–both heroes claimed that their legends were the result of their work alone, and women did not aid them in any way. The brief telling of Theseus killing Minotaur in an earlier chapter in contrast with the extensive descriptions of the work of Ariadne and Phaedra aids in the similarity. The legend of Theseus should be considered the legend of the daughters of Crete, but Theseus chose to assume all of the glory to prevent the princesses from being accused of betrayal. Theseus’s stories glorified him but are they really the products of the work of other people?

Still, it was nice to witness Phaedra’s growth as she tries to claim more power for herself while Theseus ventures on other quests. I do wonder when Phaedra will realize that Ariadne is in fact alive, and if this realization will lead to the shattering of Theseus’s rule. Perhaps Phaedra’s marriage will allow Phaedra to have some voice, rather than have Theseus’s advisers only see her for her body.

Chapter 19 - Ariadne
Dionysus seems very humanized in this chapter as he tells Ariadne stories from his perspective, starting with the story of King Midas. It feels like Dionysus is willing to sympathize with others as he had a different upbringing compared to the other Olympian gods. When Ariadne talked about how it is possible for any mortal, including her, to die unexpectedly, I understand how Dionysus was angry but he shouldn’t have disappeared so quickly. But, it does show that he deeply cares about Ariadne, whether it be platonically or romantically.

The parallels to weaving from both Phaedra and Ariadne were interesting as the two sisters missed one another but continued to weave in memory of the other during times where they felt isolated. At the end of the chapter, Ariadne’s dream did feel like an eerie premonition where Hera may punish either Dionysus or Ariadne.

Chapter 20 - Phaedra
I am unsure how I feel about Theseus at this point. He does not seem to care about his people–he only cares about his glory and being able to embark on quests without handling his day-to-day responsibilities. Yet, Theseus is the reason why Phaedra is able to have a higher quality of life even if her power is not entirely tangible. But, how did Theseus already impregnate Phaedra already? Theseus does not stay at Athens for very long–will Phaedra gain more power with the birth of her child? Phaedra has managed to survive in Athens by choosing to forget about Ariadne. With the change in Phaedra’s attitude towards remembering her past and family from Crete, how will the oracle of Phaedra arriving at Naxos on a ship be true?