Haynes’ ‘Pandora’s Jar’ wasn’t what I expected going into the book. Do not enter this book expecting a fictional retelling of the Pandora myth, as this is not what you will get in such work and you’ll likely be disappointed. I however was not disappointed by the non-fiction analytical format that looked at 10 women in greek mythology and their perception across various sources and retellings from the ancient world to modern translation, and inverting their negative perceptions or writing them back into the story. 

The title ‘Pandora’s Jar’ highlights and microcosms the culture of female misrepresentation across mythology and its posterity, for in the myth of Pandora’s box there was never a box until Erasmus’ translation in the 1500’s, but a jar. This is just one of many incorrect depictions that results in the villainisation of figures such as Medusa or the belittling of the likes of Medea. Whilst in cases of Medea or Clytemnestra representations of them as villainous figures is accurate (and why shouldn’t they be able to take up such role), future perceptions twisted or left out elements of story to undermine their cleverness, justification in revenge for such treatment, or implemented and emphasised other elements of their stories to make them only appear worse people. 

It was an insightful look at figures across mythology and really influences ones perceptions and assumptions, and this broad span of mythological analysis was structured well for the most part, whereas I very much disliked the discussions in the final third of each chapter on modern interpretations. Whilst the point of the book is looking at a history of depictions and misinterpretations of these figures somehow references and analysis of Star Trek and The Lego Movie in a book discussing the tragedies of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides didn’t sit well with me. That being said, the majority of the discussions were engaging and enjoyable and it contained many much appreciated insights on these wronged figures of mythology.