A PRESENT DAY FOR MEDUSA: REWRITING THE MYTH THROUGH A FEMALE VOICE

Abstract

This article discusses the representation of Medusa in the poem “Um café com Medusa” by Ana Martins Marques, with the aim of reflecting—through an analytical approach—on the artistic reworking of the myth in contemporary times. This movement enables a critical examination of the persistence and/or transformation of social issues related to femininity. The analysis concludes that the poem offers a revision of the original myth by allowing Medusa to recognize and express her desire. The female perspective subverts traditional portrayals—typically marked by competitiveness and sabotage—shifting instead toward empathy, solidarity, and identification, which frame the relationship between the two women in the café. Moreover, as the poem addresses aging, it articulates the exhaustion and displacement experienced by these two elderly women, whose voices drive the verses. At the same time, however, it challenges stereotypes: these older women laugh, express desire, and are capable of joy and ease.