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Subhead: The Greek goddess of the hunt and moon and the mortal Atalanta, with their strong wills and self-confidence, have become the archetype for female characters in this century's fiction, says Jean Shinoda Bolen in this excerpt from the book "Artemis." Byline: Jean Shinoda BolenKatniss Everdeen of "The Hunger Games" trilogy, portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence in the films, is just one of numerous new strong female protagonists.Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate
(WOMENSENEWS)--In mythology, Artemis is the Greek goddess of the hunt and moon, known as Diana to the Romans. She was the first-born twin sister to Apollo the god of the sun. As goddess of the hunt, she roamed the wilderness, armed with a bow and quiver of arrows, accompanied by her hunting dogs, either alone or with her chosen nymph companions.
Artemis was the protector of pre-pubescent girls and young animals. Pregnant women prayed to her to relieve them from pain. (Artemisia--the herb that bears her name, is used by midwives for this.) She reacted swiftly to help those under her protection and to punish those who would harm them or disrespect her.
Artemis has an archetypal predisposition toward egalitarian-brotherly relationships with men, a sense of sisterhood with women, the ability to aim for a distant target or rise to a challenge and a preference to be in nature rather than cities.
Atalanta is a famous hunter and runner in the ancient Greek myth of a mortal woman, who was rejected and left to die when she was born. She survived, the ancient storytellers said, because she was "under the protection of Artemis." Atalanta exemplifies the indomitable spirit in competent, courageous girls and in the women they become. This indomitable spirit refuses to give up on what she knows to be true for herself. These women have grit and the passion and persistence to go the distance, to survive and win.
Modern Day Novels, Films
Girls and women with indomitable spirit are the new protagonists in many of the most-read novels and fictional series of this century. They have emerged in the creative process of authors with a reality that seems to blend invention and active imagination. I believe that these emerging female heroes are captivating readers because of a morphic resonance. Energies and archetypal patterns in the collective unconscious are rising into our individual consciousness and changing assumptions about women and in women.
Katniss Everdeen is an Atalanta in Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" trilogy; Lisbeth Salander is a darker side of this same spirit in Steig Larsson's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." I also see Atalanta in Anastasia Steele, the main character in E. L. James' "Fifty Shades of Grey" who ventured into the wilderness of emotion and sexuality.
These are young women who call upon their intuition, depth of feeling and courage to go beyond previous limits; who feel fear and outrage and have to adapt and endure and not give in or give up. Each has an inner spirit that is not subdued, a will that is not broken. Each in her own way is a quirky, independent, courageous person who is in uncharted territory--the metaphoric wilderness, the realm of Artemis.
Until the women's movement in the 1960s, the enduring fictional character with Atalanta qualities was independent-thinking, hot-tempered tomboy Jo from Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women." Jo is the one sister in the March family who pursues a career and who, when she finally does marry, makes a conscious, personally meaningful choice. In novels, as in real life, it's not what happens to us that counts, but how we respond.
Similar Qualities
In Greek mythology, Atalanta the mortal and Artemis the goddess have similar sounding names and qualities. Artemis is the goddess with the silver bow and arrows, the hunter with unerring aim. Atalanta is also a renowned hunter. Like Artemis, she is at home in forests and associated with animals, the mother bear in particular. But Atalanta is mortal and, as such, can be affected by Artemis or any of the other divinities in the Greek pantheon. She can also suffer the consequences of being a woman in the cradle of patriarchy.
In the age of feminism, Atalanta became known to several generations of children through Marlo Thomas' "Free to Be . . . You and Me," which entered the popular culture as a book, as a recording and then as a television special. The book became a children's classic. In this version of the mythic tale, the Princess Atalanta is an athlete and astronomer who promises her father that she will marry the man who can beat her in a footrace.
Atalanta has also been featured as a hunter and a runner in video games, in comic books and on television. She even became a toy action figure following her role as a strong character in the video series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys."
Reprinted with permission from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC., "Artemis: The Indomitable Spirit in Everywoman" by Jean Shinoda Bolen is available wherever books and ebooks are sold or directly from the publisher at www.redwheelweiser.com or 1-800-423-7087.
Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D., is a psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, speaker and the author of several books, including "Goddesses in Everywoman." The Millionth Circle Initiative was inspired by her book and led to her advocacy for a U.N. 5th World Conference on Women. Visit her at www.jeanbolen.com.
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