#she is the literal quintessence of 'woman relegated to object in a competition between men'

[magiefish]

This might just be a *me* thing, but I do find it kind of fascinating that almost every Feminist Greek Myth Retelling seems compelled to flatten Helen into a two-dimensional basic-bitch with no guilt or remorse for her actions despite the fact that self-loathing for her own beauty, a feeling of a lack of agency in the face of Aphrodite's whims and a complicated affection for and loyalty to both the Greeks and the Trojans are all major characteristics of hers in both The Odyssey and The Iliad. I'm sure this has nothing to do with the dynamics of modern feminism and patriarchy whatsoever.

#like. guys. if there's any character who's just BEGGING for a retelling from their POV other than Briseis and Lavinia #(which have already been done) #it is Helen #she is the literal quintessence of 'woman relegated to object in a competition between men' #and yet she still somehow has a more nuanced character in stories written by ANCIENT GREEK MEN (gestures generally at Athens) #then she does today #what are you people doing #classics #greek mythology #should i tag the books im referring to? yes. i will actually. #the song of achilles #a thousand ships #silence of the girls #the women of troy #(just realised that Lavinia technically isn't a creation by Greek men but snsyshdjeuds #Grecco-Roman mythology / Aeneid follows Iliad / you get my point) #anyway come at me i'm ready to be burned at the stake #oh shit i also forgot #the penelopiad