The revenge of Persephone. From abducted maiden to rival monster in God of War: Chains of Olympus

Abstract

This work delves into videogames, a current common field in contemporary mass culture and the culture of young people, as it is a tool for leisure and online communication, for self-expression, learning, and socialisation. Specifically, I study the redefinition of the goddess Persephone in God of War: Chains of Olympus, where she plays the role of the main antagonist. Following a classical reception approach, I will demonstrate that Persephone acts as a monster insofar as she has the same function as these creatures within God of War. I also conclude that she is an exceptional monster for two main reasons. On the one hand, her monstrosity is not determined by her physical appearance, as has been applied to monsters since ancient times, but it responds to the current expansion -and metaphorisation- of monsters. On the other hand, Persephone’s characterisation in God of War contrasts sharply with the classical perception of a goddess, but it ties in perfectly with the ingredients of action and fantasy that are essential in videogames.