while percy and annabeth parallel odysseus and grover parallels penelope in som, luke sits back and waits for them to retrieve the fleece for him. but who does he parallel? tantalus.
tantalus who visited olympus and tried to steal nectar and ambrosia to bring to the earthâluke who visited olympus and stole the master boot and helm of darkness to bring to earth, attempting to create war.
tantalus who was enraged with his failure and the godsâ denial and went home to kill his son and serve him to the gods to feast uponâluke who took his failure and changed tactics, planning to retrieve the fleece to bring back thalia, someone he cares deeply for, and serve her to kronos, known children devourer, as a weapon, figurehead, and vessel.
tantalus who failed yet again and was punished to stand in a pool of water and under a tree of fruit, salvation that always remained just out of reachâluke who failed again and annabeth and thalia who were both alive and right there but he could never reach again. luke pleading with thalia on mt othrys to join him so she could be the vessel and save him from that fate but she kicks him away. luke visiting annabeth and pleading with her to run away with him so he didnât have to become kronosâs vessel, pleading with her to save his life, but she denies him and closes the door in his face.
salvation for luke is right there in his grasp but he just canât reach them and they both deny him, leaving him to become kronosâs vesselâthe water receding and the branches lifting the fruit away from his mouth.
