Introduction

  When I began my thesis project, I intended to dissect our modern fascination with ancient heroes. But the more sleuthing I did, the sooner I realized the similarities: big, strong men who fight specially crafted monsters for glory. They make the same mistakes -angering a god- face the same repercussions -their journey is inexplicably much more challenging- all to die a tragic death. I'm not trying to discredit our heroes. But, what makes them unique?

  Villains, on the other hand, are much more complex. While they are like our heroes in a few ways -they follow a strict set of morals, are meddled with by the Gods, and typically are wedged between a rock and a hard place- they also have their own qualities. But what drew me to the villains, particularly the female ones, is they are not committing atrocities that haven't already been done. So why are they the only ones facing the consequences? Even more shocking is that some of these 'villains' have done nothing but exist, yet we recall them as vile creatures.

  So I set out on this journey to render those misconceptions. To show you what these women could have looked like. To tell their story from a once-silenced perspective. To then ask, 'Is she still a villain?'