Alicia Robison
Interpretation essay
Myth 6
25 September 2008
Demeter, Persephone and Hades
Often in Greek Mythology you will find many of the “myths” associate more that one god together. Each god represents or plays a part in the story as a way to learn a lesson, or understand things like why the weather is the way it is or the way people experience their feelings. To unlock the mystery of a myth break it down! There is three levels of interpretation can be used to analyze the meaning and understanding of a myth. These three levels are based on a physical level ( surroundings in a myth or how it relates to the world), socially (In the myth how does it affect a community) , and psychologically ( how does this myth relate to the emotions of people). By breaking down the myth of Demeter, Persephone, and Hades it’s easy to find the meaning behind the story and how it relates to life in present days.
Hades had snatched Persephone by the wrist and took her down to the underworld. Persephone’s cries echoed throughout the lands, thus grabbing the attention of her mother…Demeter. Demeter soared across the oceans and continents in search of her loving daughter. No one would tell her where Persephone had gone. Finally a messenger of gods informed her of her daughters’ new surroundings. When Demeter had discovered this she fell into a deep depression of sadness and anger knowing that her daughter was in the underworld full of death. The corn goddess refused to provide harvest, communities suffered and men fell into famine.
Zeus could not stand to see his beloved goddess Demeter in this state of being of loss and mourning. He called on his brother Hades to inform him of Demeter’s depression without Persephone. Hades in worry bid Persephone to eat a pomegranate seed because than she would have to return to him in the underworld. Overjoyed, Demeter and Persephone were reunited, sadly though for only a short time. Persephone than had to return to Hades. Demter remained the goddess of corn and the provider of harvest. Persephone then became the goddess of the flowers, symbolizing the growth of innocence to experience. Every spring Persephone is reborn and so was natural life. When winter came she would die again.
The myth of Persephone , Demeter , and Hades can relate to us physically, socially, and psychologically. When Hades had robbed Demeter of a daughter community had suffered from hunger and the earth had gone dry as if it was sent into a state of depression too. Mentally we have all suffered a loss of a loved one and all of us found it hard to move on. Everyone can relate to Demeter and understand the emotions she and us are capable of. Although Hades seems like the antagonist in this tale, he to suffers. Beneath the surface he is lonely and in need of companionship. By using the three levels of interpretation you can find the meaning of a myth behind the story or even realize how they relate to us. Greek gods even have feelings and humanlike features that are often overlooked.
