For several thousand years the goddess has been in decline. As we will see tomorrow, much of the decline of the goddess can be attributed to cultural factors. In very patriarchal societies such as our own, and to a greater extent the Greeks, the goddess gets shotgun instead of the drivers seat. Her importance in myth cannot be overstated however. Goddesses such as Demeter are central to the existence of all life and particularly human life. The text does a good job in covering the importance of this story in etiological and psychological terms and it does address the importance to the feminine psyche.
I found this myth to be a good guide to a woman's life and importance in society. This story tracks Persephone as maiden, Demeter as mother and life giver, as well as the crone. They may possess incredible potency to give life but it is constrained and directed here by the prerogatives of the patriarchy or social function.
The first glaring example of social duty is Persephone's marriage to Hades. While she is clearly not happy with the match it demonstrates the typical marriage a woman could expect. She would be married to a much older man who would likely appear a monster in her innocence. Much has been written on this subject and it appears in folk tales such as Beauty and the Beast where the young girl must learn to recognize the male not as the "other" but as the other half of her own divided self.
Eventually Persephone comes to an acceptance of her limitations in regards to marriage and becomes an adult woman operating within the bounds of society. While this explains the seasons etc. it also prepares young women for the transition to adulthood and the recognition of their own power as women. Their power may not be (primarily) to make policy and war but they have the gift to deny life, or allow it to continue. Observe the play Pygmalion by Shaw and the earlier Greek myth. The power of life is locked away like a princess in a tower. It takes either a hero's penetration into the restricted zone of her life giving powers to win her over, or the eventual realization on her part that she is is now not a girl but a woman. Earlier societies did a much better job of introducing women (and men) to their new lives of maturity and responsibility than we do today.
Demeter's grief over the separation is presented as somewhat excessive here but highlights the mother's need to relinquish her children to the social order as well. The better Greeks states had compulsory public education for male children starting at the age of 6 or 7. The child was usually removed from the home for a number of years and returned only when his studies were finished. He might be allowed visits home, but his mother no longer had any access or power over him. He had migrated to another realm where she could not reach him.
Demeter as the crone still holds impressive power. Take the example of Demophoon buried in the fire in an effort to grant him immortality. The mother is unable, as a mortal, to comprehend the fire of immortality and sees it only as a threat. Most people fear what they do not understand, (observe the rise of fundamentalism currently going on all over the world) and the young mother mistakes the crone, Demeter's intentions. As we will read later Hecate is the archetypal crone figure and has powers associated with the realm of death. She is the patron of Medea, Jason's wife and exhibits her power to destroy through the maddened woman. The crone is the tomb into which we all must pass.
To be honest, the first time I heard of the myth of the protective mother Demeter and the ever so innocent Persephone was when reading Uncle Johns Big Bathroom Reader. Yes thats right. I found the story very interesting in fact and I found that it can be easily related to our everyday lives. It also was very easy to understand, and the concepts were great. The myth depicts the journey that a baby girl takes through life all the way up to the point where she is considered as an old wise woman. Womens' lives at this time are much like those of modern times, you go through girl hood to become a young maiden to then a virgin lover, to a bearer of life, to a woman old in age though wise to the lessons of life. However in a patriarchal society, it is secretly known to all women that behind every great man is an even greater woman. Also, I am a full believer in the concept that "hell hath no wrath like a woman's scorn." This concept is proven true as Demeter, the giver to life on earth ceases to fulfill her duties by ceasing all plant growth to sustain human life because of the depression of the loss of her daughter (hence the creation of winter.) Only when Persephone was returned to her side did she commence to give life to earth again, hence the summer months. It was then agreed that Persephone would withstand 6 mos with Hades in the Underworld and 6 mos on earth with her mother Demeter.
ReplyDeleteI saw that same excerpt in my husbands book. It did tell the story in a clearer version but to my surprise relatively the same. The story of Demeter and Persephone did tell a life like version of how a mother would react to the loss of her daughter. It has a sense of irony in the fact that with Persephone gone life as the mother knew it was dead. However when Persephone returned life was plentiful and alive again so Demeter started to create life on Earth again in fact creating a summer season. I know as a mortal the devastation of the loss of a child would make me do exactly what Demeter did. I find it strange that women Gods posses the same somewhat equal powers of male Gods but yet cannot break the traditional role of keeping house, giving life and letting men be the controlling factor. If we look at life today in many places this still exists. In the deep south the women are still in the kitchen and having babies. When traveling there I have seen where these women like it this way (or so it seems). The real truth is that they fear what they don't understand which is what it is like to be free of male control. They are comfortable being kept like Hades does to Persephone.
ReplyDeleteI have actually been doing some research on Demeter, because I picked her for the "American Gods" essay project. I think she is very important to life, being the goddess of fertility and agriculture. I grew up on a farm, and I know that the world revolves around agriculture and food production. Without being able to grow and harvest crops, there wouldn't be food in stores for us to buy. If we are unable to grow or purchase food, we could not survive. Demeter is very temperamental and once even stopped food from being able to grow. Although she is important for agricultural reasons, she has a temper, and because of this she also was the goddess to create winter. As we all know, almost all crops cannot be grown or harvested in the winter.
ReplyDeleteI think that Demeter is one of the most important goddesses, and being a woman makes her importance even more special. She has a lot of love for her daughter, Persephone, and it seems she would do anything for her. She became very angry when Zeus thought it would be fine to let Hades "marry" Persephone without her mothers permission or acknowledgment. Demeter looked everywhere for her daughter, and I believe this mythical story shows how much love a mother can have for her daughter. I believe this relationship is very important in life.
This myth was an interesting one because it shows what a struggle it is for a mother to let her daughter grow up and begin her own life. The way in which Demeter uses her power as grain goddess to barter with Zeus shows how women can be resourseful and work with what power they do have to get what they want and need. The story of the cycles of life as represented by the seasons is also interesting. I like how most of the myths explain some basic functiion of nlife on earth, such as the seasons.
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