Greek Mythology In Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief

References to Greek mythology pervade much of popular Western culture, and although some allusions may go unnoticed for those without a background in mythology. The study of classical mythology is not a standardized, widespread component of education, and thus there is a gap in understanding of these references for many people. One book that sought to popularize Greek mythology amongst young students was Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief, which topped the children’s bestsellers lists just under ten years ago. Percy Jackson, a teenager living in New York City, is the protagonist in this novel and embodies the Greek hero Perseus in his relationship with his mother and the quest on which he embarks. While any competent reader can understand the
In ancient Greek myth, Perseus and his mother Danae were exiled after Danae’s father, King Akrisios, found out that Danae had been impregnated by Zeus. After finding refuge in Seriphos with Diktys, a fisherman, Danae was pursued by King Polydektes, ruler of Seriphos. In love with Danae, Polydektes “schemed to get rid of the now grown-up Perseus.” The Riordan equivalent to King Polydektes would be Gabe Ugliano, Percy’s stepfather who is constantly playing poker, whom Percy nicknamed “Smelly Gabe” and describes as “nice the first thirty seconds we knew him, then showed his true colors as a world-class jerk.” While Gabe may not be in pursuit of Sally Jackson, Percy’s mother, in the same way that Polydektes was, Gabe still attempts to push Percy out of the household in other ways, like sending Percy away to boarding school and turning Percy’s bedroom into a storage place for his own possessions. Furthermore, in the ancient myth of Perseus, after returning to Seriphos from his quest, he discovers that his mother Danae had taken refuge from Polydektes’ violence. Angered by this, Perseus uses the decapitated Medusa head to petrify Polydektes. After returning home to New York City after his own quest, Percy realizes that Gabe had been physically abusing Percy’s mom Sally. After the instance that Percy
Rick Riordan may have chosen to mirror his novel’s protagonist to Perseus, one of the more successful and prosperous Greek heroes, for a tamer introduction to Greek mythology, especially since the target audience for these books are middle school students. Riordan wrote this novel to introduce Greek mythology at an earlier stage in a student’s engagement with literature and culture, during the age when reading moves past simple comprehension and can explore richer literary motifs, inspiring students to learn more. Later in life, after gaining background knowledge in the ancient Greek myths, readers can engage more deeply with the text. From personal experience with reading and later revisiting The Lightning Thief after reading the canon Greek myths about Perseus, it is likely that other such readers can also better understand the timeless themes that can be transferred from the ancient stories to a contemporary novel—growing up in hardship, proving one’s worth, securing justice for harmed loved ones, and receiving help in tackling difficult tasks. The impact of these themes after comprehending the scale by which these have persisted throughout history further strengthens the power of the novel and inspires awe. The fact that many parallels of