Monstrous Women: Adaptation as Humanization

In recent years there has been a rise of retellings of Greek myths which have recaptured the imagination of contemporary readers, greatly propelled by social media. Many of these retellings center female and LGBTQIA+ voices which have previously been silenced by ancient authors. This thesis focuses on two of the most maligned women in Greek mythology, Helen of Troy and Medusa, in two recent novels, Daughters of Spart and Stone Blind. Through an application of monster theory and adaptation, both characters are given voice and made “human”.