![]() There isn’t much of Persephone’s perspective within these stories and many of the ancient sources cite this ‘whisking away’ to be from the latin rapio, further complicating modern understandings of the nature of this relationship as this is often confused with the modern word, rape. This being described as an abduction is first mentioned by Hesiod (Hes. She is whisked away to the Underworld which sparks a domino effect of events, particularly, driven by the wrath of Demeter, the mother of Kore. There are many versions of the Hades and Persephone myth but a common element across many of the writings is that Hades requests that she be taken to the Underworld after falling in love with her upon first sight. What does this say about us, as people, if we are indulging and obsessing over a couple whose origin stories include such violence that it feels foreign in comparison to our modern retellings? Are we more macabre than the stories themselves or is there something deeper going on? The idea of an ancient myth being the central inspiration to novels either for the younger teenagers to the early 20s generation or as a source of romance is a peculiar concept due to the often very violent and dark nature of ancient mythologies. This Hades and Persephone trope is incredibly prevalent throughout modern literature and one quick Goodreads search will show you over 300 books, residing in the genres of Young Adult and Romance. An oxymoron in itself, however, it contributes to the mystical and near impossible feat that has inspired and drawn many readers into their tale. She, alongside her relationship with Hades is often viewed with an empowering air, that she was able to realise who she wanted to be, who she was in the freedom of the Underworld. Persephone, in modern retellings, is often deemed to be suffocated under the pressures of the expectations upon her, by her name, by her mother and the role she is expected to play in the world. ![]() Kore, meaning daughter or maiden, was most likely her original, earlier name but she later became Persephone, arguably from the ancient Greek φερειν φόνον, “to bring” or “cause death,” a possible symbol of her new status once the goddess of the underworld. The changing of the goddess of the underworld’s name itself is indicative of this transformation. Many, today, consider it as Persephone saving Hades from the loneliness of his own hell, from the darkness of the role thrust upon him, however, in my opinion, the transformation lies closer within Persephone herself. Hades and Persephone’s modern retellings bring a sense of hope in the transformative nature of love. ![]() We want to be a saviour of something, of anything, we never want to aspire to be the person who was the destroyer. There is an aspirational quality to being the light of someone’s life, to bring joy to what seemed dead. “Can the sun find its match in anything but the moon? Can the heavens lose interest in the earth?” Hades pulled away from her and stroked her cheek.
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