Review: Myths, Gods and Immortals: Medusa
“No one mourns the wicked,” sing the cast in the opening number of the acclaimed musical, Wicked (2003) and there is none for whom this is truer than Medusa. Indeed, many have rejoiced when she meets her grisly fate at the hands of Perseus, as he achieves hero status, and the ordinary citizens of ancient Greece have one less monster to worry about. But is this a happy ending? Have we mistaken victim for villain? One of the first installments of Flame Tree Publishing’s new Myths, Gods & Immortals series: Medusa aims to familiarise readers with the mythological figure, both in her original cultural context and from a modern viewpoint, with short stories to illustrate the everlasting connection between humanity and the myth.
The essay dedicated to introducing Medusa is written by Liv Albert – best known for her podcast Let’s Talk About Myths Baby – who does a fantastic job in conveying the challenges we face in finding the woman beneath the monster when we have no definitive source to refer to. Albert aptly compares this to a game of telephone, given that details are inevitably lost the further a story gets from its original source. Her enjoyable writing style and clear enthusiasm for the subject, however, make what would be an otherwise overwhelming amount of information to wrap one’s head around into an accessible, eye-opening educational experience. In Albert’s eyes, Medusa:
“…looked monstrous but did not behave monstrously, and her death was sad and unnecessary. She was not a terrible seductress hiding away in a lair surrounded by stony figures, waiting for her next victim, like she is so often depicted today. In fact… there is not a single recognized instance of violence committed by Medusa while her head remained on her body.”
Albert’s piece therefore highlights the significant role of misogyny in distorting our perception of Medusa, where any women who deviate from the patriarchal ideal are seen as deserving of violence (physical or otherwise).
Accompanying and incorporating elements from Albert’s essay into their narratives in unique and interesting ways, the short stories contained within Medusa illustrate the deep connection people continue to share with Greek mythology. The Wise Look for All of the Stories by Alicia K. Anderson, for instance, beautifully communicates how different aspects of our character surface and are also shaped by our stories, through Athena’s journey to forge a new identity for herself and, by extension, Medusa. Heart of Stone by Tom Johnstone, on the other hand, draws poignant parallels between the protagonist Maddie and Medusa in the context of religious trauma. It’s nice and fitting to see the traditional and modern paired in this manner, as it encapsulates just how important the ancient world is to who we are and will be.
This book was a privilege to review, and I am nothing if not excited to read more from this very promising series. Medusa will prove valuable as a means of encouraging readers to reckon with their prejudices and reservations regarding the Gorgon, and the subsequent discussions of heavier topics that arise when we look more closely at her story. Irrespective of whether readers will question if she warrants monster status, or if they remain resistant to alternate readings of mythology, it is undeniable that where any story is concerned there is always more to it than meets the eye.