Greek mythology has fascinated readers and writers and readers for centuries due to its universal themes and rich storytelling. These ancient tales resonate with people because they explore profound human experiences within a fantastical world filled with gods, monsters, and heroes. The stories strike a perfect balance between relatability and escapism.
Greek mythology's cultural impact is deeply ingrained in our history, shaping how we view the world. The tradition of retelling these myths breathes new life into them, allowing each generation to connect with the timeless narratives. Rosie Hewlett, author of Medea, shares her insights into why these stories have endured and how they continue to captivate audiences today.
Greek mythology has intrigued writers and readers for centuries, why do you think that is?
I believe Greek Mythology has endured for so long because the stories are so universal. Throughout history, people have connected with these tales, finding themes and characters and messages that resonate with them. That is what makes Greek Mythology so captivating - they explore intimate human experiences, whilst existing in this fantastical world of gods and monsters and heroes, striking the perfect balance of relatability and escapism. Greek Mythology has also helped shape our world and how we view it, its cultural impact can be seen everywhere we look and that is why I believe people feel so connected to these stories, because they are so ingrained in our history. Additionally, it is the very nature of Greek Myths to be told and retold, and it is this tradition that has allowed these stories to endure for so long, having new life continually breathed into them so they can continue to connect with generation after generation.
Can you tell us a little bit about the research you did for Medea?
Having studied Classical Literature and Civilisation since the age of eleven, and securing a First-Class Honours degree in the subject, I am fortunate enough to have a very firm foundation of knowledge when it comes to the Greek Myths. However, that being said, there is always more to learn, and I absolutely loved diving back into the Ancient World when writing Medea’s story. Medea appears in numerous ancient texts, but the main sources I drew inspiration from were Euripides’ Medea and Apollonius of Rhodes’ Argonautica. I also enjoyed reading a number of modern essays and books on Medea, such as Helen Lovatt’s In Search of the Argonauts, as I think it is important to understand the conversations around these myths and how they have evolved throughout history.
It’s fair to say that Medea is most known for her act of revenge, and that certainly plays a part in your novel, but there’s so much more to Medea’s story than that. What aspect of Medea’s character did you find most interesting when writing this novel?
What I find interesting about Medea (and wanted to explore in my book) is how she is such an incredibly powerful woman yet also, in many ways, very naïve. Medea is undoubtedly the most powerful character within her myth, she can take on dragons and giants and kings and armies. Yet, at the same time, she is also just a young, sheltered woman who longs to be loved and accepted. This juxtaposition really captivated me, and I wanted to explore that contrast of power and naivety and how detrimental it can be when the two are intertwined, especially when someone takes advantage of one to weaponise the other. What I also find fascinating about Medea is how morally grey she is. As I’m sure many authors can attest, the morally grey characters are the most fun to write! I loved exploring that interplay between good and evil through Medea’s story, demonstrating that they are not as clear cut as people might think.
You’ve written about another very powerful woman in this story, Atalanta. Why was it important for you to include her?
I have always found it incredibly disappointing that there are no accounts of Atalanta and Medea meeting. We have two of the most powerful women in Greek Mythology crossing paths on a thrilling adventure – who wouldn’t want to know more about that? Unfortunately, the Ancient World had a habit of ignoring relationships between women (because it was a world dominated by men) and this is something I wanted to rectify in my book. I absolutely loved exploring Medea and Atalanta’s friendship, as well as having the opportunity to bring Atalanta to life. Sadly, Atalanta has been largely forgotten by history, despite her impressive story, and so I wanted to take the time to show readers just how awesome and impressive she truly was. My hope is that this will inspire people to go and learn more about this incredible huntress history has forgotten.
“Medea and Circe are considered the ‘first witches’ of Greek Myth.”
Witchcraft is a defining theme of this novel. Can you tell us a bit about your research into this part of Medea’s experience?
Witchcraft in the Ancient World was a rather mysterious practice. It had very close, often overlapping, ties with religion and was neither strictly sanctioned nor forbidden. Researching the various depictions of Medea and Circe helped me understand ancient attitudes to witchcraft, as both women were portrayed as dangerous beings, whilst also evoking a fearful fascination. There appeared to be a differentiation between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ magic in the Ancient World, and this was something I wanted to explore further. Additionally, as Medea and Circe are considered the ‘first witches’ of Greek Myth, I wanted to depict magic as a new and unknown concept in my book. In terms of how magic worked in the Ancient World, I took inspiration from the primary texts but also wanted to bring my own ideas to the table. The key hook for me was in the Argonautica when Medea summons the death spirits and does so by “shaping her soul to mischief”. This idea of “shaping her soul” really struck me, and I became fascinated with how Medea’s magic could change her as a person and how this might connect with her infamous downfall, helping bridge that gap between innocent girl and villainous witch.
There are a lot of epic and jaw-dropping scenes in Medea, but what was your favourite scene to write?
As much as I love a jaw-dropping action sequence, my favourite scenes to write were those between Medea and Circe / Atalanta. These are three of my all-time favourite characters in Greek Mythology and I have spent many years studying them, so to be able to bring these women to life, and see them interact on the page, was so exciting for me as a classicist and author. It’s kind of like writing fan fiction about your favourite characters within your favourite story! I had so much fun exploring how these powerful women would relate to one another and how their relationships with Medea would unfold. As I have mentioned in Question 5, the Ancient World often neglected relationships between women, so I found it incredibly rewarding to rectify this in Medea and focus heavily on the fascinating women within this story.
Which books have influenced you as a writer?
Undoubtedly, Madeleine Miller’s The Song of Achilles has influenced me most as a writer. I read this book when I was sixteen years old and was immediately captivated by Miller’s version of this epic tale. Having studied Classics throughout school, I had already developed a passion for the subject, but The Song of Achilles really solidified that love for me. What gripped me about Miller’s novel, other than how beautifully it was written, is that it allowed me to view the world of myth in an entirely new way. Before then, I had always thought of Greek Mythology as being a fixed idea cemented in the past, but Miller’s book showed me that mythology is an ever-changing dialogue that continues into the present, and one that we can insert ourselves into. After reading The Song of Achilles, I fell in love with the idea of continuing this age-old tradition and being able to retell my own version of my favourite myths and bring new ideas to these ancient stories.
Also, I feel it would be amiss to not mention The Odyssey and The Iliad. Even though they are not technically ‘books’, these epic poems have had a profound impact on my writing as they were my first introduction to the Ancient World, and the beginning of my obsession with Greek Mythology. Even today, I find myself continually revisiting these texts, as they capture so much of what I love about mythology in their ability to weave those intimate human experiences into such sweeping, fantastical stories.
Medea by Rosie Hewlett is out now.
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