The story of Medusa serves as a mirror for ’men s inert fear of female power that is hidden in her beauty and seductive voice . Femininity threatened men , especially heroic men ; it threatened their power and seduced them to their death . An interesting example is the story of Ulysses in the Odyssey , who had to fi ght the women that prevented him from returning home . When the sirens sang and their voices lured him to the depth of the sea , he asked his men to tie him to the ship ’ s mast , so that he wouldn ’ t fall prey to their power . The idea that a person from the lower classes has the power to in ֳ uence the mighty , threatens the existing social order , since it grants power to the weak and the downtrodden . Hence , when Ulysses couldn ’ t resist the sirens ’ singing , he demonstrated a rare weakness : these females were so strong and dangerous that they could destroy even a famous hero such as Ulysses . At the Met Museum , the image of Medusa , with the snakes for her hair ,...
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