Customer Reviews

Demeter and Persephone: Lessons from a Myth

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This book is a very interesting look at the myth of Demeter, Persephone, Hades and all the people associated with their myth. I should warn you that this is a feminst perspective on the myth that uses outside references such as the Bible and other self-help books to interpret the myth and give it meaning to modern day readers. However, this book only refers to the Homeric Hymn version of the myth, and when I started reading the book I was very disappointed. There are so many versions of this myth, such as Demeter having dragons surround Persephone to keep her from being harmed, that I feel books like this one need to hunt down and interpret for modern day audiences as well. Another gripe I have with the book are some of the interpretations. For example, the author implies that Persephone was physically raped, and I disagree only because the word "rape" has multiple meanings in the English language--Persephone's "rape" could just mean that she was taken in the Underworld against her will. In my opinion, there is no proof that Persephone had sex (forced or otherwise) with Hades in the Homeric Hymn. Otherwise, if you have an open mind and are willing to read a feminist view of the tale of Demeter and Persephone, this is the book for you.