Demeter, Persephone and Hades

The myth of Demeter, Persephone and Hades can be looked at in a few different ways naturally,socially, and psychological. It is a story of romance and woe, the changing seasons and innocence. It takes place in Greece when Persephone the goddess of spring strays from her companions and is kidnapped by the awestruck Hades. Her mother Demeter, full of grief, withholds from the earth her gifts of bounty. Man would soon die of famine if the gods did not act fast. Soon a pact was made, Demeter would be able to keep her daughter for eight months of the year and Hades would keep her for the last four.


The view of this myth in the natural way can explain the changing seasons of the year. The earth becomes a barren frozen land until she can get Persephone back. Demeter while with her daughter would represent summer and spring and when Hades takes Persephone to the underworld winter would start.


The view towards Demeter being a woman and mother like figure to Greek society is because the woman was the one that tended the fields while the men were away. Also Persephone is seen as a young lady and youth were innocent but also not very smart. Hades can represent man. Taking what he wants with almost no repercussions.


Finally come the psychological view of these gods. Demeter is mother of man because she gives him the means to settle. She is kind and peaceful but also scornful. Persephone is young, beautiful and innocent, representing virginity. Hades is the bad guy of this myth representing evil, taking the innocence and virginity away from Persephone like man.


The myth of Demeter and the kidnapping of her daughter by the god of the underworld could be seen in many different perspectives but to the ancient Greeks it was not a myth but a understanding of the world around them in a natural, social and psychological way.