Interpretation Essay

Hades and Persephone

Interpreting a myth takes a special kind of thinking. First step is taking it in on a basic level, how the myth explains something on a natural level. The story of Demeter and Persephone shows the changing of seasons. It then goes deeper and explains how they are interpreted socially, and finally how your mind takes them in and breaks it down psychologically. The story of Hades, Persephone and Demeter explains the changing of seasons, loss, grief and love.

In a natural way Hades represents everything that is evil, dead, rich and everything that has to do with the underworld. He is a thief, stealing Persephone from Demeter. He is a very lonely man, but who blames him, having to live alone in the underworld would not be the most social place, only having the non-living as a friend. He is very mysterious and unknown. All he really wants is companionship, which is why he travels up to earth to seek out Persephone for a partner.

Flowers, rain, beauty, innocence, these are a few things that depict Persephone. She is the only daughter of Demeter. She symbolizes purity, virgin, and new beginnings. Hades raped her of her innocence when he took her down to the underworld. At first, she was not content in the underworld but eventually she began to love Hades and liked living with him. It gave her a sense of belonging, she could figure out who she really was and wanted to be.

Demeter was in so much grief over the loss of her only daughter. Demeter is a very loving mother, goddess of corn. She is queen of the land, almost like Mother Nature. she is very nurturing. She signifies agriculture, food, earth and the seasons. She searched and search day in and day out for her loving daughter, prayed for her return. Nobody in Olympus would spread word of where she had disappeared. The day came and Demeter found out where Persephone had gone. Hades allowed Persephone to go back to the mortal world to visit her mother under one condition, she eat a pomegranate seed which would promise of her return. The seed was like a trap; it tied her to the underworld forever. Every four months she would come up and visit her mother. The seed was sweet, and delicious. It was tempting, juicy, and symbolized rebellion.

The story of Persephone and Demeter is important because it explains how seasons change. Persephone symbolizes spring, when she went to the underworld the earth was different. Then every four months she would arrive. Every four months a season changes, whether it be spring, winter, summer or fall. I assume it was her job on earth.