15 love with them. In addition, children who are born from a mother who gets married
with god will share the power like their father. The third category is monster or beast in Greek mythology. Those monsters
exist because of some of them are god’s favorite and become their guardian. For example, Zeus has Pegasus, a wild winged horse that becomes a carrier of Zeus’
lightning and thunderbolts. In addition, there is also Python, a giant snake that guards the oracle, the source of wisdom. However, those monsters and beasts are mortal. It
means they can be killed, just like Minotaur, monster in form of bull-headed man who likes to eat human, which is killed by Theseus. Besides, there is also Orthrus,
two headed giant dog, which is killed by Hercules to complete his duty. In addition, there are also some figures outside those categories, for example:
Hermaphroditus, who is the son of Hermes and Aphrodite. Although his parents are god and goddess, in Greek Mythology he does not mentioned as a god who is
responsible for any specific area, has a super power and authority. There is also Tiresias who is a prophet and becomes Zeus’ priest. Another example is Nymphs, a
spirit which usually depicted as a beautiful maiden, typically associated with particular place or landlord deals with nature.
C. Theoretical Framework
In this study, I try to reveal the significance of Greek mythology figures presented in Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. Here, the theory of approaches, theory
of mythology and review on Greek myhtology are used.
16 I use theory of mythology to reveal the basic idea of mythology and to find
out the significance of mythology to the novel. Further, I also apply mythological approach as the best approach to search the significance of Greek mythology toward
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. The review of Greek mythology gives a reference and connection to relate the Greek mythology figures which mentioned in the novel
into the Greek mythology.
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the methodology of the study. This chapter covers the subject of the study, the approaches used and the steps taken in undertaking and
completing the analysis of the novel.
A. Object of the Study
The subject of the study is a novel entitled Middlesex. It is a-529-page novel, the second novel written by Jeffrey Eugenides. This novel was first published on
October 7
th
,2002 and the one used in this study was published in 2003 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, Soho Square, London. Middlesex, recepient of Pulitzer
Prize in 2003, finalist for the National Book Critics Award, the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and France’s Prix Medicis, has been sold over one million copies.
Middlesex tells the breathtaking story of Calliope Stephanides and three generations of the Greek-American Stephanides family who travel from a tiny village
in Bursa, Asia Minor into Detroit, America, witnessing World War II, world depression, race riot of 1967, before they move out to Grosse Pointe Michigan.
Middlesex is a time machine to the past in a mission to reveal the reason why Calliope or Callie transforms to be Cal. Calliope, the main character of this novel and
also the narrator of the story, is genetically a man who is raised as a woman. Calliope tells about her family secret, starting from her grandparent’s incest and her parent’s
17
