"Hades": A Modern Interpretation of the Classical Underworld

“Hades” is a series of poems based on the mythical representation of the underworld connecting the modern identity to the nuanced incarnations of identity in the classical past. The focus is to breathe life into the... [ view full abstract ]

“Hades” is a series of poems based on the mythical representation of the underworld connecting the modern identity to the nuanced incarnations of identity in the classical past. The focus is to breathe life into the neglected denizens of Hades, particularly the god himself. The description of the underworld in classical literature ranges from vague darkness to vivid landscapes inhabited by beings who symbolize exaggerations of various facets of human condition. We know the god Hades as the agent of Persephone’s descent to the underworld, but very little of the god’s situation, condemned to ruling a world without light. Through readings of the mythical past from varying perspectives, we find interwoven in each character complex layers of identity to be interpreted. My goal was to humanize and analyze the iconic character of Hades with respect to his epiphanic journey to Persephone and the particular consequences his ferryman Charon represents. From my personal standpoint, I have found that the complex way in which identity is articulated in classical myths remains very relevant to our contemporary sensibility and our constant struggle to peer through the darkness at the surface of that identity. My hope is that “Hades” can illustrate that sentiment.​