The Homeric Hymn to Demeter functions as a coming of age tale for the character of Persephone, typical of the bildungsroman, she undergoes psychological growth and transitions from youth to adult. Despite being confined by the patriarchal institutions of her time, Persephone learns to manipulate her world and its inhabitants, in order to accomplish her own objectives of fulfilling her newly realized sexual desires and creating a comfortable living situation for herself. Throughout the Hymn of Demeter, Persephone works tirelessly within her society to develop a more meaningful individual sovereignty. The story begins with Persephone “as she played with the deep-breasted daughters of Ocean,/ plucking flowers in the lush meadow--- roses, crocuses,/ …show more content…
To follow up, the author writes that “thus he spoke and thoughtful Persephone rejoiced./ Eagerly she leapt up for joy” (lines 370-71). Presumably, after Hades finishes extolling all the reasons that his wife should return to his side, Persephone begins to think of the situation in a new light, conniving to mold it into one that works in her own …show more content…
After all, at this point, Persephone has been in the Underworld for so long that she’s grown accustomed to the unusual landscape and Hades himself, yet she still remembers the glory of the land of the gods. Understandably so, Persephone is elated at the prospect of keeping both elements of her new life intact: the part that resides with Demeter and benefits from her motherly care, in addition to, the part that rules at Hades’ side in the Underworld and is sexually fulfilled by their union. The next challenge Persephone will face in discreetly expressing her own autonomy is ensuring that her living conditions, inevitably mandated by her father, Zeus, or other traditions of the patriarchy, are what will make her most