Re-reading the myth of medusa in ecological crisis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/lad.v3i2.2026.3136Keywords:
ecology, language, myth, medusa, natureAbstract
Background: This paper reinterprets the myth of Medusa in the context of ecological crisis. By exploring the relationship between myth, the unconscious, the oppression of women, and nature, this paper attempts to reveal how hierarchical structures of domination shape the human perspective in understanding nature as an object. Methods: This study adopts a qualitative interpretative approach using symbolic hermeneutics grounded in Carl Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious and Hélène Cixous’ feminist deconstruction. Jung’s framework is used to read Medusa as an archetypal symbol of repressed fear and human–nature relations, while Cixous’ perspective critically reinterprets the myth to expose patriarchal narratives and reconstruct Medusa as a metaphor for liberation and ecological consciousness. Findings: This paper asserts that the root of the oppression and exploitation of nature lies in the binary logic that separates humans and nature. The human narrative of nature is also a narrative of domination, in which the distance between humans and nature is constantly maintained. Humans construct the "shortest distance" through an awareness of duality, distinguishing themselves from nature while remaining connected and dependent, and the "longest distance" through an awareness of an entity that places itself outside and above nature. As a result, humans become alienated from nature and lose the ability to listen to its voice. Conclusion: This paper concludes that restoring the position of nature and humans requires reclaiming the language of nature, which has been usurped by technology and the scientific revolution. A new ecological consciousness must arise from the recognition that humans are not the only subjects in power, but rather part of an interconnected web of life. Novelty/Originality of this article: Medusa's petrifying gaze and the nature gaze that awakens consciousness become reflective metaphors, suggesting that it is not only humans who are capable of conquering; nature can also "gaze back" through disasters, famine, drought, and death.
References
Adamski, A. (2011). Archetypes and the collective unconscious of Carl G. Jung in the light of quantum psychology. NeuroQuantology, 9(3), 563-571. https://eduardolbm.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/archetypes-and-the-collective-unconscious-issue-c-g-jung.pdf
Ali, A. (2024). Medusa’s Evolution: From Mythological Monster to Feminist Icon – A Reflection of Shifting Societal Narratives? International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research, 6(5), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i05.28089
Amin, T. (2017). The Medusa of Shakespeare, Helene Cixous and Greek Myth. ASA University Review, 11(1), 31–42.
Błocian, I. (2015). Philosophical and Psychological Aspects in Jung’s Conception of Myth. The Schellingian Influence. Studia Religiologica, 48(3), 217–227. https://doi.org/10.4467/20844077SR.15.016.3787
Boersma, K. (2022). The Anthropocene as the End of Nature? Why Recognizing Interventionism Is Key in Coming to Terms with the Anthropocene. Environmental Ethics, 44(3), 195–219. https://doi.org/10.5840/enviroethics202292643
Boscaljon, D. (2024). Seeing Jung’s Shadow in a New Light: Decolonizing the Undisciplined Depths. Religions, 15(12), 1553. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15121553
Bray, A. (2004). Hélène Cixous --Writing and Sexual Difference (J. Wolfreys (ed.)). Palgrave Macmillan.
Chaudhari, N. (2024). Role of Female Characters in Mythology Symbolizing Feminism. Gap Bodhi Taru : A Global Journal of Humanities, I, 27–30. https://www.gapbodhitaru.org/res/articles/(27-30)%20ROLE%20OF%20FEMALE%20CHARACTERS%20IN%20MYTHOLOGY%20SYMBOLIZING%20FEMINISM.pdf
Cixous, H., Cohen, K., & Cohen, P. (1976). The Laugh of the Medusa. Signs, 1(4), 875–893. https://doi.org/10.36019/9780813568409-027
Diver, R. (2020). Tomboyish Wisdom Gods and Sexy Gorgons: The Evolution of Ovid’s Medusa Rape Narrative in Contemporary Children’s Literature. New Voices in Classical Reception Studies, 3(13), 66–77. https://fass.open.ac.uk/sites/fass.open.ac.uk/files/files/new-voices-journal/issue13/robin-diver.pdf
Eli, R. (2013). Intercorporeality: an invitation to being in the human-body-nature relationship. Journal of Conscious Evolution, 9(9), 1–14. https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/cejournal/vol9/iss9/1/
Gaard, G. (2010). New Directions for Ecofeminism: Toward a More Feminist Ecocriticism. Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment, 17(4), 643–665. https://doi.org/10.1093/isle/isq108
Gabriel, R. (2021). Affect, Belief, and the Arts. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.757234
Glennon, M. (2017). Medusa in Ancient Greek Art. The Met: The Line of Art History. https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/medusa-in-ancient-greek-art
Homans, P. (1969). Psychology And Hermeneutics : Jung ’ S Contribution. Zygon.
Jeelani, S. S. (2025). Breaking Chains, Shifting Perspectives: Deconstructing Patriarchy and Human-Centric Paradigms in Madeline Miller’s Circe. Polish Journal of Aesthetics, 2025(74), 61–75. https://doi.org/10.19205/74.25.4
Kalsched, D., & Jones, A. (1986). Myth and Psyche: The Evolution of Consciousness. In Carl Gustav Jung Foundation for Analytical Psychology. https://www.cgjungny.org/myth-and-psyche/
Kerr, M., & Key, D. (2010). The ecology of the unconscious. Vital Signs: Psychological Responses to Ecological Crisis, 63–78. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429484728-13
Locher, G. W. (1975). Myth, Ideology and Changing Society. In Explorations in the anthropology of religion (pp. 234–246). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-4902-2_14
Merchant, C. (1980). The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology, and The Scientifc Revolution. HarperOne.
Merchant, C. (2006). The Scientific Revolution and The Death of Nature. The University of Chicago Press on Behalf of The History of Science Society, 97(3), 513–533. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/508090
Neumann, P. (2023). The Problem of Culture and Nature in Carl Gustav Jung’s Psychoanalytical Concept. Analiza i Egzystencja, 61, 51–66. https://doi.org/10.18276/aie.2023.61-03
Nye, A. (1986). French Feminism and Philosophy of Language. Nous, 20(1), 45–51. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2215279
Omran, M. F. (2025). The Path to Wholeness : The Serpent- Haired Gorgon ’ s Individuation Journey in Jessie Burton ’ s Retelling Medusa : The Girl Behind the Myth ( 2021 ). Occasional Pappers, 90, 391–413. https://doi.org/10.21608/opde.2025.445086
Perry, C., & Tower, R. (2023). Jung’s Shadow Concept: The Hidden Light and Darkness within Ourselves. In The Society of Analytical Psychology, United Kingdom. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003255819
Rine, A. (2010). Phallus/Phallocentrism. The Encyclopedia of Literary and Cultural Theory. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444337839.wbelctv2p002
Sakulwattana, J. (2013). Medusa Myth: Reflecting Human Collective Experiences of the Femaleness. Journal of Studies in the English Language, 8. https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jsel/article/view/18184
Schmidt, A. (2021). Maiden or Monster? Be Both. Medusa Media Collective.
Segal, R. A. (1998). Jung on Mythology. In R. A. Segal (Ed.), Jung on Mythology. Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv10crg5b
Shiva, V. (1988). Staying Alive: Women, Ecology and Survival in India. In Hypatia (Vol. 6, Issue 1). Kali For Women. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-2001.1991.tb00218.x
Singh, P. (2025). Mythological projections and ecofeminist discourse: Revisiting Maria Mies’s and Vandana Shiva’s Ecofeminism. GENDER – Zeitschrift Für Geschlecht Kultur Und Gesellschaft, 17(2–2025), 71. https://doi.org/10.3224/gender.v17i2.06
Webb, R. E., & Sells, M. A. (1995). Lacan and Bion: Psychoanalysis and the Mystical Language of ‘Unsaying.’ Theory & Psychology, 5(2), 195–215. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959354395052002
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Fuad Hasyim
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
