According to myth, Medusa was renowned for her particular appeal and the beauty of her hair. Supposedly, Neptune was particularly charmed by her, and was supposed to have been sexual

One of the reasons both the myth and the character of Medusa speaks to modern readers is the fact that she is a woman torn between multiple circumstances and circumstances in which she understands that her participation could result in disaster. Throughout ancient literature, humanity has dealt with its ideas and concepts regarding the divine and the realm in which the divine, or the gods and goddesses, exist. Such relationships demonstrate the almost desperate desire for connection on the part of humans in their collective determination to interact with the mythical realm they are convinced exists beyond themselves.

The Idea of Medusa in the 21st Century

Clearly, such is not the case in the situation presented by Perseus and Medusa since Medusa is rendered not just powerless but destroyed. In either version of the myth, Medusa is undone. It is worth noting the conclusion made by modern scholars Travis and Barlowe who point out that by using the Perseus-Medusa myth as the “context of analysis” (pp. 50) in terms of the “academic and cultural demonstrations of the simultaneous claim/failure of dialogue and as a cautionary tale for feminists, our particular interrogation can remind us all of the oppressive discursive practices involved in gender politics” (pp. 50). This type of consideration of the myth in terms of its modern application ultimately results in an understanding that it is not a story of clear-cut or unambiguous stereotypes. Instead, it offers an ancient perspective of the human condition and the relationships between men and women. The most interesting consideration lies in the ways in which modern interpretations square with classical or traditional attitudes and what that has ultimately meant in male-female relationships for the 21st century.

Throughout the history of the myth and the ways is has been explicated for modern interpretation, it has been argued that Medusa actually serves as the quintessential representative of “the Other” and that she is an example of the duplicity that exists in every woman since one of the great Athena’s own symbols was that of snakes. She is an example of reflection, the other side of the coin, the idea that her existence serves as both a mask and a mirror of the person that lies beneath the representation. Of course, she may also be a represent

Some topics in this essay:
Travis Barlowe, Idea Medusa, Renaissance Modern, Medusa Gorgon, Ancient Culture, , Minerva/Athena Minerva/Athena, Ultimately Medusa, Ovid Perseus, Medusa Medusa, 21st century, travis barlowe, pp 47, form archetypes appear, myth medusa, form archetypes, pp 104, stories medusa, actually serves, version myth, pp 50, relationships 21st century,