Jeanette Winterson’s modern adaption of the Greek tale of the punishment of Atlas, and the ventures of the semi-god Heracles’, also known as Hercules, in her novel Weight lifts the earth off the shoulders of the present by introducing the past to the future. The protagonist, Atlas is a half-titan with an unproportionally big heart who carries the world without knowing why. The encounter between the fierce Heracles and gentle Atlas is a rediscovery of the themes resignation and purpose: a voyage through time and hardships.
Weight is a common ground for Greek mythology and scientism with Winterson’s own experiences as the glue. Atlas is punished to bear the earth on his shoulder and to gradually indurate as a result of the Titanomachy: a prolonged war between gods and titans. Heracles, having a quest to harvest Hera’s golden apples offers to hold the globe as Atlas plucks the fruit Heracles cannot. Atlas, wishing to visit his daughters, the hesperides, is tricked by Heracles who returns to his ventures: freeing Atlas brother, Epimetheus from his punishment and commiting suicide upon an excruciating burning sensation inflicted by a poisonous arrow. Atlas grows fond of the earth, but his body grows stale because of its weight. However, after thorough contemplation he lets go of the weight that could proceed to exist entirely on its own.
Introspection reaches both Atlas and Hercules who battle with finding meaning behind their confinements. With aeons in solitude to contemplate the meaning behind their actions they reach abhorrent and melancholy conclusions. Heracles, serving king Eurystheus to achieve immortality, encounters Atlas, in his confinement, whose weight he offers to carry in exchange for completing a quest. Holding the world, Heracles’ ‘only company was the hornet buzzing outside of his head, the thought-wasp, buzzing Why? Why? Why?’ As Heracles is exposed to his own thoughts he resorts to distractions such as alcohol, adrenaline and socialisation. However, with the world stuck on his shoulders he is immobile displaying not only the hazardous qualities of isolation, but escapism equally.
‘There is no why,’ Atlas replies, introducing the theme of resignation to the inevitable. Repression holds hands with hopelessness; to not have a say in one’s lot inhibits the search of purpose creating a reality with a cloudy sky to every day wake to; therefore, a life governed by others will nurture a loathing mindset for ‘No man believes what he does not feel to be true.’ This is true for certain family dynamics as expectancy more often than not weighs down several members of the families. However, the question of freedom is a controversial topic as many favour the opinion that ‘There is no such thing as freedom’ and that ‘freedom is a country that does not exist.’ Which connects back to the sense of meaninglessness in such a way that if nothing is within one’s control what is the point of it?
Approaching the end of the book the author, Jeanette Winterson, adds to her authenticity by implementing personal experiences about holding onto weight as a result of having been an orphan and mirrors this by letting Atlas put down the weight of the world and have the epiphany of its autonomy. Despite his fondness of the earth he expresses great agitation: ‘I sleep at night and wake in the morning hoping to be gone. It never happens. One knee forward, one knee bent, I bear the world.’
Meaning that the pleasure taken in the life of the world is not dependent on the burden one puts up with, but is in fact attainable independently from agitation.
Winterson utilises an already told story to tell a new one, tracing back to the origins of storytelling where they were orally shared and passed on. With a dialogue as palpable as the radiating heat from a campfire and a philosophical depth of mentally intimate conversations. The contrasting characters Heracles and Atlas have a direct approach to each other, eliminating futile details that do not add to the plot, engaging the reader throughout the novel, and making Weight a pleasant read. Moreover, the author includes bits and pieces of herwriting process adding to the grounding essence of the novel as it binds the fictitious world to the reality of the reader.
by Iris DP22