Medusa & the Castration Theory

Introduction

There is nothing happy about the story of Medusa. One of three Gorgons, Medusa was not always a monster as so many see her. She was the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. She started out as a beautiful woman with locks that could have put Rapunzel to shame, which incited lustful desires from Poseidon. It was a case of complete disregard for the poor woman’s consent. Poseidon pursued Medusa relentlessly, so she ran. Seeking refuge in Athena’s temple the Water God was not dissuaded. Poseidon followed Medusa into the temple, raped her and left her to whatever punishment may be waiting her. Athena does not miss much, and that night she did not miss Poseidon and Medusa in her temple, but instead of sympathy for the abused woman Athena took her revenge. Athena cursed Medusa to the life of a Gorgon. Her beautiful locks turned to snakes. Her skin became scaled. Such hideous looks chased Medusa to a secluded location where all men feared her for one look at her would turn them into stone. A life of loneliness. Punished for no wrongdoing. Medusa’s tale is one of great tragedy.

Teachings

There is a theory based off of the story of Medusa. Interchangably referred to as either the Medusa Theory or Castration Theory, scholars use Medusa’s story to explain man’s fear of a woman with power over them. The theory has two parts. The first explains that in our society when a woman obtains power it means that man’s powers have been usurped. In some versions, this causes the physical castration of man. This is a frightening and unacceptable outcome. Thus the goal of the story going forward is to removes the woman’s power no matter the outcome. In the case of Medusa, her head in removed from her body by the hero Perseus. The second part of the Medusa Theory is related to the physical form or change that happens to the body. Nearly every time a woman gained power her appearance changes. Primarily this means turning into a monster. For example, witches are usually depicted as ugly, old with warts and a hunched back. Similarly, Medusa’s hair turns into snakes and her skin into scales.

The Medusa Theory and the Tragedy of Medusa demonstrate three things:

• The troubling perception of women
• Women with power incites male fear
• Having sex (consensual & nonconsensual) as a woman is not acceptable

Influence

There are several examples in comic books that can connect to the tragedy of Medusa.

Jean Grey begins as a capable mutant whose main purpose was to be Cyclops’ love interest. That was until she absorbed the Phoenix Force. It gave her powers so unimaginable that they were limitless. If you have read the Dark Phoenix Saga, then you will know that her power is so great she can consume entire suns. This does put Earth in danger, but it also makes Cyclops and Professor X weak and emasculated. She had to be destroyed before any considerable damage was done.

On a similar page is Scarlet Witch. In House of M, Scarlet Witch is a mutant with magical abilities that just like Phoenix could have no limit. Yet, the story goes that Scarlet Witch looses her children and blames the Avengers. As a result of her extreme anger, depression and some manipulation on her brother’s part, Scarlet Witch makes the world the perfect place. Everyone’s dreams became reality. Then the superheroes began to remember. In their fit of rage they seek out Scarlet Witch. Killing her brother, ruining her perfect world and making her remember the lose of her children she make one wish. “No more MUTANTS!” From that point on she is an enemy of both the X-Men and the Avengers, and the best response is the kill her. With the help of the Young Avengers Scarlet Witch is found and is left to live with what she did. To this day even she has not fully recovered and now spends a great deal of her time alone trying to stay balanced and do the right thing as she did before the House of M.