Hermes and Hekate: The Messenger God's Role in the Witch's Mythos
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Chapter 132, “Hermes,” is a brief but revealing portrait of the messenger god as seen through Hekate’s wary eyes. The chapter opens by noting that when the gods were discussed, Hermes was the one always linked with laughter. His wit was legendary, and he was known as a trickster and a deceiver. The poem then moves to a specific example from his infancy: Hermes outwitted his own brother, Apollo, the Sun God, by eating Apollo’s favorite cows and then transforming their remains into a lyre, which he presented to the music-loving Apollo. This early act of cunning not only stole from a powerful god but also turned the theft into a gift, disarming Apollo with something he cherished.
As Hermes grew older, he continued to use his cleverness to climb the divine hierarchy. He aided Zeus in hiding from Hera, and by doing so, he cleverly ensured his place among the Olympians as far more than a mere messenger god. The chapter emphasizes that Hermes knew from an early age how to be crafty enough for posterity—how to secure his legacy through wit and manipulation.
The final lines shift to Hekate’s perspective. She reflects on all of this and wonders why, given Hermes’s crafty nature, he would possibly want to save or protect her. The question hangs unresolved, casting doubt on his motives and leaving the reader to consider whether his help is genuine or part of a larger scheme.
Key Events
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Hermes is introduced as a god associated with laughter, wit, trickery, and deception.
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As a baby, Hermes outwits his brother Apollo by eating Apollo’s favorite cows.
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Hermes turns the cows’ remains into a lyre and gives it to Apollo, who loves music, thereby turning a theft into a peace offering.
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As he matures, Hermes assists Zeus in hiding from Hera.
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Through this act, Hermes secures his standing among the Olympians as more than just a messenger god.
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Hekate, the narrator, questions why such a cunning god would want to save or protect her.
Character Development
Hermes is portrayed as a figure who evolves from a mischievous infant to a politically savvy deity. His babyhood trick on Apollo demonstrates that his cunning is innate, not learned. By turning the cows into a lyre, he shows an early ability to convert a harmful act into a beneficial one, disarming a potential enemy with a gift tailored to Apollo’s tastes. This pattern continues in adulthood: by helping Zeus hide from Hera, Hermes ingratiates himself with the king of the gods, ensuring his position is elevated beyond the lowly role of messenger. The chapter suggests that Hermes’s entire identity is built on strategic cleverness—he is “crafty enough for posterity,” meaning he thinks long-term about his legacy.
Hekate appears only in the final lines, but her character is revealed through her skepticism. She does not accept Hermes’s apparent goodwill at face value. Instead, she recalls his history of trickery and deception and immediately questions his motives for wanting to save or protect her. This moment shows Hekate as cautious, perceptive, and unwilling to trust a god whose entire reputation rests on manipulation. Her question implies that she sees through surface gestures and looks for underlying intentions.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Trickery and Deception – The chapter centers on Hermes’s identity as a trickster. His infant theft of Apollo’s cows and his later aid to Zeus are both acts of deception, yet they are framed as clever rather than malicious. The theme raises the question of whether a deceiver can ever be trusted.
Wit and Cunning – Hermes’s wit is his defining trait. He uses it not just to survive but to thrive, turning a crime into a gift and a secret alliance into a promotion. The lyre made from cow remains symbolizes how he repurposes destruction into something beautiful and useful.
Divine Status and Politics – The chapter shows that among the gods, status is not fixed. Hermes actively works to secure his place by aligning with Zeus. His help in hiding from Hera is a political move that elevates him from a mere messenger to a trusted ally of the king.
Protection and Motive – Hekate’s final question introduces the theme of protection and its possible hidden costs. Why would a god known for trickery want to protect her? The motif of protection is immediately shadowed by suspicion, suggesting that in the divine world, help often comes with strings attached.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is significant because it introduces Hermes as a complex and ambiguous figure in Hekate’s story. Rather than presenting him as a straightforward ally or enemy, the poem emphasizes his history of cunning and manipulation. This sets up a tension that will likely play out in later chapters: can Hekate trust Hermes’s offer of protection? The chapter also deepens the world-building by showing how gods like Hermes navigate divine politics, using wit and service to climb the hierarchy. For Hekate, this is a moment of caution—she recognizes that Hermes’s help may not be altruistic. The chapter matters because it forces the reader to question every interaction Hekate has with Hermes, making his future actions unpredictable and loaded with potential betrayal.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What does Hermes’s early trick on Apollo reveal about his character?
Hermes’s trick on Apollo shows that he is cunning from birth. By eating Apollo’s favorite cows and then turning their remains into a lyre for the music-loving god, Hermes demonstrates an ability to turn a harmful act into a gift. This reveals that he is not just a thief but a strategic thinker who can disarm enemies by appealing to their desires. It also shows that he is willing to deceive even his own brother, indicating that his loyalty is to himself and his own advancement.
2. How does Hermes secure his place among the Olympians?
Hermes secures his place by aiding Zeus in hiding from Hera. This act of service ingratiates him with the king of the gods, ensuring that he is seen as more than a mere messenger. By helping Zeus in a personal and secret matter, Hermes proves his usefulness and loyalty to the most powerful deity, which elevates his status among the Olympians. The chapter suggests that this is a deliberate move on Hermes’s part to ensure his legacy.
3. Why does Hekate question Hermes’s desire to save or protect her?
Hekate questions Hermes’s motives because she knows his history as a trickster and deceiver. She has just recounted how he outwitted Apollo and manipulated his way into Zeus’s favor, all through cunning. Given that pattern, she cannot understand why such a crafty god would want to help her without some hidden agenda. Her question reflects her wariness and her understanding that in the world of the gods, protection often comes with a price.