Interpretation of Myth in Jennifer Saint’s Novel Ariadne

The current academic research project examines the receptionofancient myths in Jennifer Saint’s 2021 debut novel, Ariadne, a contemporaryEnglish author. This study identifies the general patterns and principlesofantiquity’s reception within the novel, focusing on the main storyline-Ariadne’s journey. The narrative is developed from the perspective of themain female characters - Ariadne and Phaedra. The study employshermeneutic interpretation and comparative literary analysis to examineSaint’s feminist reimagining of classical myth, analyzing howthe novel reshapes traditional narratives through the lens of modern female experience. By comparing Saint’s version with ancient and world literary adaptationsofthe myth, the research reveals the author’s thematic emphasis onfemaleagency, voice, and resistance. The analysis finds that Saint uses mythadaptation as a tool to critique patriarchal power structures and to center theemotional and psychological experiences of female characters. Her portrayal transforms classical figures like Theseus and Dionysus into symbolsofmasculine domination, while recasting Ariadne, Phaedra, and Pasiphaëwithdepth, sympathy, and modern resonance. This work represents thefirst academic study of Jennifer Saint’s novel, which has not yet been translatedinto Georgian