Proserpine and Ceres: Analysis of Major Characters
"Proserpine and Ceres: Analysis of Major Characters" focuses on the intricate relationship between Proserpine, the daughter of Ceres, and her abductor Hades, the ruler of the underworld. The narrative centers on Proserpine's kidnapping by Hades, who, captivated by her beauty, forcibly takes her to be his queen. This act prompts Ceres, the goddess of fertility and Proserpine’s mother, to seek assistance from Jupiter to rescue her daughter. The divine intervention results in a compromise that allows Proserpine to divide her time between the underworld and the earth, specifically spending half the year with her mother and the other half with Hades due to her consumption of pomegranate seeds.
The character dynamics highlight themes of loss, maternal love, and the cyclical nature of life and seasons, as Ceres's grief directly affects the fertility of the earth. Other notable figures include Triptolemus, a mortal saved by Ceres who learns agrarian skills from her, and Arethusa, a nymph who informs Ceres of Proserpine's fate. The story reflects broader mythological themes and the interconnectedness of divine and mortal realms, illustrating how personal relationships among deities can influence the natural world.
Proserpine and Ceres: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Unknown
First published: Unknown
Genre: Short fiction
Locale: The Mediterranean
Plot: Mythic
Time: Remote antiquity
Typhoeus (ti-FEE-uhs), a Titan imprisoned under Mt. Aetna. His struggles cause Hades to fear lest the underworld be exposed to the light of day.
Hades (HAY-deez), ruler of the underworld. He comes out to inspect the entrance to his realm, sees Proserpine, and falls in love with her. He kidnaps Proserpine and makes her his queen, partly against her will.
Proserpine (proh-SUR-pih-nee), the daughter of Ceres. She is seized by the enamored Hades and carried off to be queen of the underworld. Ceres demands Jupiter's help in recovering her daughter. Jupiter decrees that Proserpine may return to the earth provided she has eaten no food in the underworld. Unfortunately, she has eaten part of a pomegranate. She is allowed to spend but half the year with her mother; during the other half, she must stay with her husband in the underworld.
Ceres (SEE-reez), the goddess of fertility and the mother of Proserpine. When she cannot find her daughter, she prevents the earth from being fruitful. After her daughter is found and Jupiter decrees that she can spend half the year with her mother, Ceres permits the earth to be fruitful in spring and summer.
Triptolemus (trihp-TO-leh-muhs), a mortal child who is saved from death by Ceres. She then teaches him to use the plow. She would have made him immortal if his mother had not interceded. Triptolemus builds a temple to Ceres at Eleusis.
Arethusa (eh-reh-THEW-zuh), a woodland nymph changed into a fountain by Diana. She tells Ceres that Hades has taken Proserpine to the underworld.
Jupiter, the king of the gods. He decrees that Proserpine can return to her mother if the girl has eaten nothing in the underworld. Since the girl has eaten part of a pomegranate, a compromise is reached, and she is allowed to spend half her time on the earth with her mother.
Venus, the goddess of love.
Cupid (KYEW-pihd), her son.
Alpheus (al-FEE-uhs), a river god.
Diana, the goddess of the hunt.
Mercury, the messenger of the gods.