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Theme Of Control And Manipulation In The Myth Of Perseus By Edith Hamilton

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What comes to mind when we hear the word, “puppet”? The definition that would first come to mind is entertainment, a movable model that is controlled by thin pieces of string or a hidden hand within. On the other hand, a puppet may also be a person, party, or state under the control of another supreme power. In the myth of Perseus by Edith Hamilton, the two definitions link together to form the themes of control and manipulation. From birth, Perseus’s life was on the line. If there was no existence of fear coming from the Gods’ punishment, his grandfather, King Acrisius, would have killed him long before he even had the chance to crawl. As the story progresses, the themes reflect how the youthful Perseus is merely a puppet of the Gods as he is to Polydectes. …show more content…

According to Edith Hamilton, Perseus’s journey begins with an empty-handed gift for Polydectes’s bride to be. Furthermore, it is mentioned that Polydectes evidently cues Perseus the gift he would like to receive. Noticing the spark of interest, Polydectes targets and manipulates these aspects to his advantage, creating an invisible trap waiting for its prey. Without second thoughts, the immature teenager rashly plunges into the trap, announcing to the crowd his plan to bring forth Medusa’s head. Once growing up in a healthy environment, Perseus fails to see and understand the evil that lays beyond his outside world, leaving a gap of space for supremacy to slip

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