Status Updates From Heroes: Mortals and Monster...

-I enjoy classical studies & ancient folklore across the globe bc it’s interesting to see how people used to think. What people used to value, how they explained social norms & natural/scientific phenomena. Then, you tie it into our reality today. How do they compare & contrast? We all need something to believe in; we all need to explain things to ourselves & others.

-trans figure as well! I’d read that myth before, but I don’t quite remember where. I like Fry’s inclusion of queer & trans characters in his retellings, bc while those identities certainly weren’t the norm in Ancient Greece, they definitely still existed! <3 He also acknowledges sexism too & treats female characters with care. I love Stephen Fry!!! His afterword is spot on too. It really spoke to me bc-

Oedipus’s story is one I’m familiar with from Sophocles, other retellings, & English class. Even a clever & cunning man such as him was double crossed by prophecy, once the two halves of the story were pieced together. Theseus displays traits of intelligence, innovation, & proactivity that an Ancient Athenian would value. He progressively became more lacking in morals as he aged. I liked hearing about the-

Jason’s story concluded, we move on to Atalanta & the hunt of the Calydonian Boar.