Analysis Of The Generation Of Monsters
According to Jenny Strauss Clay, in their journal titled The Generation of Monsters
in Hesiod, there is a natural hierarchy of men and beasts (Clay 112). As with any
hierarchy, there are usually differences, or in this case distinguishing features of the
divine, the bestial, and the human, which instinctively place some creatures above
others (Clay 108). In the Greek and Roman myths that we read in class, this hierarchy
is clearly shown through the relationship between the gods and monsters. As written
in Theogony, all monsters derived from Gaia, however it is their appearances that set
them apart from the gods. Clay defines being monstrous as being an anomaly. From
birth, a monster does not fit into usual classifications, or... Show more content on
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Thus, there are new standards for all beings.
Greek and Roman monsters are hybrid creatures that unite normally disparate
elements, like for example, the human and the bestial (Clay 106). It is their
distinctive qualities that make them discriminated against. Sometimes, they involve a
multiplication of human or animal features or they violate fundamental categories,
for instance, mortal/immortal, young/old, and male/female (Clay 106). One example
of this in the Aeneid is Cerberus. Once Aeneas and the Sibyl cross the river to get
into the underworld, they see this multi headed dog that guarding the gates. As
revealed in Theogony, Cerberus is also the offspring of two monsters, Echidna and
Typhon (Hesiod, Theogony, 310 315). Like Clay wrote, the gods would view those
who had multiples of the same feature as monsterous. Thus, it makes sense how in the
Aeneid, Cerberus is described as having three throats, an enormous bulk, and serpents
writh[ing] around his neck (Virgil, Aeneid, p. 198, 6.480 482). Because of this, the
gods are fine with using him as a guard. They are taking advantage of him so that
they don t have to deal with people trying to sneak out of the underworld. This is all
because, as a monster, their excessive power or distinguishing features inspires fear,
especially in those who rule . So Zeus is left neutralize the threat and then incorporate
them into his new order (Clay