The theme of loss is evident in ‘The Homeric Hymn to Demeter’ as it revolves around the loss of Demeter’ daughter, Persephone. The loss occurs as a result of a kidnap arranged by her father, referred to as the son of Cronos. Persephone’s father has arranged her marriage with the underground ruler, Hades. The earth opens up to provide Hades with a way to come back from underground and seize Persephone (Homer, p. 1).
The hymn revolves around the agony caused to Demeter as a result of her loss. She loses her desire to continue living and serving as a goddess and transforms herself into human form (Homer, p. 4). She seems to be forsaken, by the rest of the world, because she is the only one looking for her daughter. She has lost her faith in the father of her daughter, and she has to drive him to return their daughter.
In the course of her physical transformation, Demeter suffers another loss in the effort to change Demophoon into an immortal. She is constantly under observation from the boy’s mother, and she has to perform all her rituals at night. One night the mother catches the goddess having put her son in the flames of fire and cry so hard. As a result, she has to disclose her identity, and she demands for them to make her a sanctuary from where they will adore her (Homer, p. 9).
The son of Cronos, on the other hand, loses the loyalty and obedience of the goddess Demeter. She disobeys the messages he sends to her requesting her to go back to the gods’ world. Although her daughter is returned to her, a part of her is lost because she has to spend part of her life in the underground as the mistress of the underground ruler (Homer, p. 14). Her comeback is incomplete because she has been fed while underground and has to go back there during some periods. Though the search for her daughter is fortunate, she has cannot be easily returned to her and the subject of loss is emphasized again. This topic has been supported by the theme of betrayal.
The theme of loss is beneficial to the people in ancient Greek society since many losses occur in the day to day life. The people are informed that family worry most about their losses are only them just like Demeter suffering affected only her. Other people only check in to help when they are affected. For instance, the son of Cronos chipped in to help on the realization that the people might have nothing to give him, due to lack of harvests caused by Demeter. According to David Sheppard, an inscription that was found on the island of Delos state that Demeter and Persephone were the same goddess, and thus the search was for self. People in the ancient Greek society should engage in search for them selves and accept them selves in order to continue with life.
Works Cited
Homer. The Homeric Hymn to Demeter. New York, NY: Forgotten Books, 2007. Print.