51 pages • 1-hour read
Percy Jackson's Greek Gods
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Character Analysis
Zeus
The king of the Olympian gods, Zeus is a central figure in both Greek myth and the Percy Jackson universe. Zeus looks like a handsome man with dark hair, and in keeping with his power over the sky, he has “eyes as blue as the sky, though they could cloud over very fast when he got angry” (39). He plays a role both in his own myths and in those of all the other key figures in Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods—Olympians, Titans, and humans alike—and he’s as much a product of his past as he is of his status. As the leading force overthrowing Kronos, Zeus believes he’s above reproach and that his actions are unquestionable. He answers to no one and does as he sees fit in punishing mortals, chasing women, and controlling the gods. Thus, Zeus thematically exemplifies The Effects of Power Dynamics and how absolute power can corrupt. However, Zeus displays caring for Earth and for the gods and other beings in his land, even if this kindness is partly motivated by his desire for respect.
Hera
The queen of the gods and the goddess of motherhood (among other things) is Hera. Like many other goddesses, she’s beautiful but also has “a short temper and massive attitude” (121), which are a product of how her husband, Zeus, treats her. Hera thematically represents the effects of power dynamics on women. Hera longs for Zeus to treat her as an equal, and she takes offense at his attitude toward their marriage and his many affairs. Whereas Zeus uses his ultimate power to do whatever he wishes, Hera is partly stuck in his shadow and forced to use more underhanded methods to exact her will. She wears her attitude like a shield so that the other gods won’t mess with her, and she’s quick to punish those she believes have wronged her. Hera is unafraid to take drastic action to benefit herself, such as throwing Hephaestus out the window when he’s born. In addition, Hera is a role model for the other goddesses, particularly Athena, by showing that women can defy the men who try to control them and that women don’t need a man at their side to be powerful.
Gaia
The first of the primordial gods, Gaia is Earth itself. Since she’s everywhere at once, she’s aware of all, though her attention must be focused to see events happening in a specific location. She can walk about her land by assuming a human form, which appears as “a matronly woman with a flowing green dress, curly black hair and a serene smile on her face” (2). Though she only appears as a human in the first few stories, Gaia’s impact is evident throughout the time of the Titans and the Olympian gods. All beings hold an allegiance toward her for being the literal ground they walk on, and though she’s asleep for much of the Olympian timeline, she can still be aware of anything happening on her surface. Gaia’s influence is subtle but powerful, offering aid to those in fear of a god’s wrath and sustaining herself, repopulating Earth after Zeus’s flood to ensure that humans can tend to her land. In addition, Gaia plays an important role as a threat in the Heroes of Olympus series.
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