Third sample writing  

The Homeric Hymn to Demeter

From the late Egyptians, the ancient Greeks, African tribes to the Orient and modern day America, cultures all around the world hold their own specific beliefs and values regarding the roles of men and women. These beliefs are often portrayed through modes of entertainment, from plays, folktales, poetry, to television programs and movies, found in contemporary society. It is through the examination of such modes as Greek mythology and poetry that we are able to infer the values and beliefs of ancient Greek society towards the cultural expectations of men and women. With support from Sue Blundell's book, Women in Ancient Greece, and Letter to Demeter from the Perseus Project, the concepts of motherhood, marriage, and feminine vs. masculine power will be examined

Throughout all of Greek mythology, the story of Demeter and her daughter Persephone is the sole tale that portrays motherhood in a positive light. The mother/daughter bond is unlike any other relationship. Jung stated that "the two goddesses represent two distinct but complementary phases of a woman's life, maidenhood and motherhood."(Blundell, 42) Contained in Homer's letter to Demeter, the bond between Demeter and Persephone is aptly shown. During Persephone's abduction "the depths of the sea rang with her immortal voice: and her queenly mother heard her."[39] Despite the great distance between the two, Demeter was still able to hear her daughter's desperate cries for help. Once mother and daughter were reunited, Demeter's "heart suddenly misgave her for some snare,"[390] and she knew that something wrong and irreversible had occurred, just from touching her daughter. I believe that this bond between mothers and daughters is not biologically specific. When Demeter is shown into the palace of Celeus, Metaneira "bade her be seated,"[191] upon the couch. This was declined by Demeter, yet the daughter Iambe intuitively offered "a jointed seatwith a silvery fleece"[195] which Demeter graciously accepted. Iambe also accomplished to "move the holy lady with many a quip and jest to smile and laugh,"[204] when previously Demeter had "sat upon the stool without speaking because of her sorrow."[198] Not only is there a bond between biological mothers and daughters, but a union of motherly figures and young girls as well. The transition from maidenhood to motherhood is accompanied by the dreadfully portrayed act of marriage

In ancient Greece it was quite common for marriages to be arranged by the father, and often times the daughter was offered to a virtual stranger. Such occurrences were "against the mother's wishes, and envisaged as a kind of rape." (Blundell, 42) Persephone's abduction aptly portrays the fear of the maiden and the fear and anguish experienced by the mother as well. Persephone claimed that Hades "bore her away, all unwilling,"[432] yet she was powerless to stop the abduction. I believe that as a result of such arranged marriages, many a marital squabble took place. Unfortunately, women of Greece lacked the power and opportunity that Demeter possessed. Demeter was able to boycott Mount Olympus and deny man the fruit of the earth needed to survive. With her power, Demeter could make her opinion heard and obeyed and as a result she got her daughter back for two-thirds of the year. This portion of the myth aptly portrays the yearning of the common woman for the opportunity to express her wishes. Yet, no matter how much power Demeter possessed, underlying every decision, a male figure has the final say

Despite Demeter's power over the earth and the fertility of its soil, she and all other deathless gods were ultimately forced to obey Zeus. "Earth was made to grow at the will of Zeus,"[9] and "by leave of Zeus,"[31] Persephone was offered to Hades. Demeter and Persephone were also overpowered by Hades by "secretly giving her sweet pomegranate seed to eat,"[371] and thus obliging her to spend one-third of the year with him. The portrayal of male dominance within mythological tales gives us insight into the way of life found in ancient Greece. Daughters and wives were meant to "keep house, spread their masters' bed,"[144] do women's work and "to carry it (water) in pitchers of bronze to their dear father's house."[108] Yet, despite the undercurrent of male dominance, women are not viewed as completely powerless. The importance placed upon reproduction and the dominant role that women play in continuing the human race is a cause of fear and inferiority by males. In her despair and anger, Demeter "caused a most dreadful and cruel year for mankind over the all-nourishing earth,"[305] and she had the power to "destroy the whole race of man with cruel famine."[310] Demeter as a goddess is capable of withholding the fertility of the earth and thus causing the end of man. While this is an amplified scenario, her power portrays the real fear of the mortal man due to his lack of control and involvement in the childbearing process. Ancient Greece was a patriarchal society within which women had little or no say in important decisions, and their main role was to serve their mates. Greek myths accurately portray this placement of power, but they also let us see the fears of men and the yearnings of women

As with all transcripts, recovered from centuries ago, we are left to decipher and infer our own individual interpretations as to the beliefs and values held by the majority of citizens. The letter to Demeter is a strong portrayal of the importance of the mother/daughter relationship. >From this hymn we are also allowed a glimpse into the fear and anxiety experienced by maidens when it comes time to cross over into marriage and motherhood. Most importantly, Demeter's power over fertility and Zeus's realization/fear of her strength allows us to believe that women were not as helpless and powerless as the men would have them believe.

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