Human beings experience moments of grief. The grief process involves seven main stages where an individual is required to pass through to achieve happiness and acceptance. The same situation happened to Demeter when her daughter Persephone was kidnapped.
This paper will discuss the seven stages of grief in relation to Demeter’s case as indicated below:
Shock and disbelief- A person may be caught unawares of the situation thereby causing shock. When Demeter hears Persephone scream, she is distraught and tries to go after her to no avail.
Denial- One may fail to accept the situation as it is, doubting the reality of the issue. Demeter, however, does not experience denial but takes up a frantic search for her daughter.
Anger- On a natural level, one may be angry at the situation or themselves. In Demeter’s case, she is angry with Zeus for allowing their daughter to be kidnapped and married off to Hades.
Bargaining- This action is done to strike a deal in order to change the situation. Upon knowing the truth, Demeter causes a severe drought to humanity so as prompt Zeus to bring Persephone back to her.
Guilt- Individuals may regret about situations that happened they could have avoided. This situation does not affect Demeter.
Depression- This refers to a profound sadness as a reaction to grief and loss. Demeter experiences severe depression upon losing her daughter to Hades.
Acceptance and Hope- Upon acceptance of the situation, hope ensues. When Demeter accepts Persephone’s fate of spending a third of her time in the Underworld, she accepts the situation as it is, reviving her happiness.
In conclusion, life and death are concepts that are present in ancient Greece and modern society. Grief is a personal experience as individuals cope with the loss or suffering in their own way.
