story 2

   I wrote the Rape of Persephone to show the longing Hades has in the Underworld for affection. In Greek Mythology, Hades is seen as a very stern, unsympathetic, and brooding character, though never evil. So, in this retelling, I try to focus on other attributes of his character. The Rape of Persephone details the kidnapping of the God Persephone by Hades and the reactions of her mother and father, Demeter and Zeus. Hades wishes to make Persephone his wife and has not the patience to wait for acceptance by any party, so he acts abruptly. The story is mostly very action-oriented with what little emotion the story displays coming from Demeter who is heart-broken because she has lost her daughter and Persephone who is distraught at being held captive. Hades is shown as a cunning, deceptive and heartless character. With this retelling I wanted to tap into the emotions which led him into the kidnapping and the emotions he felt after the event had taken place. In the conclusion, Persephone, who is the bringer of fertility amongst the earth, will travel from the earth, where she will walk during spring and summer to the Underworld, where she will abide for the winter. In Greek and Roman mythology her coming and passing is seen as a sign of the change of the seasons. Certain ancient cities in Greece, such as Agrae and Eleusina, pay tribute to her and the changing of the seasons through festivals held each year. Also, the retelling will show the effect or the toll the Underworld has taken on Persephone. By this time she has traveled to and from the Underworld for hundreds of years. Aristeas has been summoned by Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, to take on a task for her. The two share something in common: a desperate need to escape from Hades' tightly clinched grasp.

   There, just beyond a long swaying red cloth that hung down from the ceiling lay the beautiful Persephone, Hades' wife, in a long flowing white dress. She pulled out the book that I knew all too well. "Can you please look for the city Eleusinia?"
My curiosity got the best of me and I spoke when I should not have.

   "Why me? Why don't you read for yourself?"

    She spoke softly but sternly. "Their are only two who can read from the book: my husband, and the writer of the scroll, the keeper of Hades' thoughts... you. Now please look." I looked for a long while but eventually grew weary and the words began to run together. After all my searching, Persephone finally spoke, "Turn to the 'The Rape of Persephone'". After a small search I found what she spoke of. A tear trickled down her cheek. "Read it to me." And so I again read from Hades' words.

    "Long had I abided in the underworld. A dark and deep place to live life alone. So strong I am, thought I, that I would never need a mate or the touch of something delicate. On a rare trip, not long ago, I came upon the earth in the dead of winter to visit with my brother Zeus. Upon the earth he found me, whereupon he took me to Mount Olympus to eat and drink and be merry for a short time. There he showed me his new creation. With our sister Demeter he had created a child of compelling beauty named Persephone, the embodiment of the Earth's fertility. She was striking to behold. We watched her from on high, walking on the fields of the Earth and lightly caressing the plants as she passed by them. My heart instantly began to race; was this what it felt like to love? I pleaded with my brother to let me take her hand.

    "I reminded him of my service to all Gods, especially to him. I was the keeper of the fell beasts, and I lived in the dungeons and caverns of the earth. Though my power was great, most would not be willing to suffer my fate. He hesitantly accepted my proposal. He said unto me that he would need to speak with Demeter, 'The Earth Mother,' goddess of grain and fertility, and then to Persephone to tell her of her fate. After two nights on Olympus I returned to my palace under the earth. My mind was ever on Persephone and her glorious nature. I realized I could not wait for Demeter to dissent or worse for Persephone to not accept me. No, I would have my prize. I raced unto the Earth in my golden chariot and I snatched Persephone as she was kept in amazement over a beautiful bevy of magical flowers that I had procured for her. I took her back into the earth and there we lay together. I feel she is not fully in love with me yet, but she will soon realize the power that we can have together.

    "When Demeter learned that her daughter had been taken away, she searched the Earth ferociously. She found out from Helios, watcher of both Gods and men, that I had taken Persephone with Zeus' blessing. She became enraged and swore to never visit Olympus again and to never nourish the Earth. Many moons went by and the earth began to die without her grain and without her blessing of fertile land. Zeus finally gave in, seeing his lands die slowly and knowing that man would no longer make tributes to him. He sent Hermes, the Messenger of the Gods, to see me and plead with me to let Persephone back unto the Earth so that it may be fruitful once again. Though I was hasty in my decision to take Persephone, I knew the what would come from my actions. I was more clever than all the Gods. In the last few days I had starved Persephone, telling her a great feast was coming in her name and that she could not eat days before or it would ruin the tribute. When I sent her back with Hermes, I gave her six pomegranate seeds from which to eat, knowing that she was famished. Persephone returned to her mother, Demeter, whereupon they celebrated at great length. But not long after, they realized their bleak truth: Persephone could not forever stay upon the Earth because she had eaten of the food of the Underworld. Two seasons she would spend upon the earth, when the flowers bloomed and the sun browned the skins of those who walked the earth, but in the third season, when the earth was barren, she would return to me as my wife. Neither Zeus nor Demeter could change my edict or my power. Once you ate the food of the Underground you were bound there for eternity. I will not see her until it is time for the seasons to change, but when she returns, I will show her my undying love for her. I will make her realize the power and majesty of being Queen of the Underworld. She will love me."

    Persephone wept quietly and softly. "Does it speak of the Eleusinian Mysteries?" There were some small notes that Hades had jotted down. "There is a city it says here, Eleusis," I said. "What does it say?" she replied.

    I spoke slowly. "It says on a bare autumn day the people of Eleusis will celebrate the greatness of Demeter and Persephone and their help during the fertile seasons. And then it says, in Agrae, at a lesser known festival they will celebrate the coming of spring and pay tribute to Persephone the changer of the seasons."

   "Agrae," she said. She rose from her bed excited. She began to speak rapidly, "When I am in the Underworld, Hades keeps a spell on me. I cannot remember many of the things of the Earth. He does this so my mind will be on him and the Underworld and not wishing to be other places. I can help you escape, if you help me." I was extremely excited but again my curiosity got the better of me.

   "Won't you just have to return to the Underworld if you escape?"

   "I didn't say I wanted to escape," she said. "Agrae is the key, we must find out how to reach Agrae from the Underworld. I must take the book back now but when you get a chance you must try and find Agrae's location, and I will find out as much as I can. I will summon you soon."