Riptide

 Riptide

Abhirami Sankaran

2/3/2023

Percy Jackson is a young adult books series that follows Percy Jackson, a kid from Brooklyn who happens to be a demigod son of Poseidon. The series borrows heavily from various Greek epics and embeds them firmly within the modern world. The titular carries a sword called Anaklusmos ("Riptide"). This weapon and the symbolism behind it is what I would like to assess in this reflection. 

Through the story we find out that Riptide once belonged to Hercules and symbolized the betrayal he beset upon a character Zoe. Zoe, a former nymph of the garden of the Hesperides, once gave the sword to Hercules out of love. Yet he left her and she was banished from her home as a result (result of helping him with his quest). The sword that our hero holds is therefore emblematic of the issues many Greek heroes have. It represents how many of them valorize glory at the expense of humanity. As the books progress Percy fulfills a prophecy and uses a boon given to him by Zeus to change the systems the demigods operate under for good. He ends the story as a revolutionary. Therefore, his use of Riptide symbolically shows how the tools of old, even ones used to betray and cause pain can be metaphorically reforged to create good. It is a relatively simple message but it speaks to the depth of Riordan's writing and conveys a rather hopeful message. Despite the past we can always forge a better future.

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