Medusa: How the Literary Muse Became an Emblem for Feminism

SEPTEMBER 2021

“Medusa: How the Literary Muse Became an Emblem for Feminism”

BEVERLY TAN

ARTICLES

Published September 2021

ABSTRACT

From Ancient Greece to Hollywood, Medusa has been a global narrative. This 
article explores poetry and storytelling through the historical and literary legacy 
of Medusa; it argues for her importance in feminist history and her continued 
relevance in our post-MeToo world. While a seemingly straightforward tale, 
Medusa’s story explores female dynamics, feminist power against patriarchal 
forces, and the ultimate defense against the male gaze. This paper showcases 
a historical account of the handling of the Medusa myth which proves that the 
rewriting and reclaiming of the myth by women parallels, if not contributes to 
the success of female empowerment. Accompanying this paper is a poetry 
collection that explores varying perspectives within rape culture, including the 
sexualization of Billie Eilish. 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33682/nzgc-1pxs
PDF

HOW TO CITE (CHICAGO):
Tan, Beverly. “Medusa: How the Literary Muse Became an Emblem for Feminism.” The Interdependent 2 (2021): 112-142. https://doi.org/10.33682/nzgc-1pxs