Episode 03: Ariadne

Writing Style: ★★★★★

Plot: ★★★★☆

Characters: ★★★★☆

Overall: ★★★★★

Jennifer Saint gives new light to the lives of Ariadne and Phaedra in her book Ariadne. This book focuses on the struggles of women in both the past and present to emphasize the disadvantages individuals face because of the life they are born into.

On a superficial level, Ariadne had everything. She was a princess, beautiful, and the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the world. However, her life is far from perfect.

A few years after Ariadne was born, her father offended the gods. As a result, Ariadne’s mother, Pasiphae, was manipulated into eventually creating the Minotaur. Kind Ariadne strives to see through her brother’s penchant for violence and endeavors to help him. However, after he begins killing innocent people, Ariadne can defend him no longer and seeks to end the bloodshed. With the help of her sister, Ariadne aids a handsome stranger named Theseus in destroying the Minotaur and escaping from Crete. In return, he leaves her on a deserted island to die.

Surprisingly, this abandonment sparks the beginning of Ariadne’s most prominent and peaceful chapter in her life as this is how she meets her husband Dionysus. With the god, Ariadne moves on from her traumatic past and creates a calm calm oasis on the island with her family

While Ariadne is creating a new and secluded life with her god, Phaedra is married to Theseus and shipped to Athens to secure a lasting peace between the two cities. Here she must be constantly vigilant and wary to survive the cutthroat world of the Athenian court until it becomes too much.

Saint’s passion for giving insight into women ignored in myths shines brightly through this story. She provides refreshing and contrasting perspectives for Phaedra and Ariadne who in turn give voices to the women they encounter through speculations and insights. This book follows the original plot of various myths while giving them a modern and feminist twist.