Written by Amaranila Nariswari, Content Writer Intern at Project Child Indonesia
Have you jumped on to the hot news of how Disney+ is currently undergoing the adaptation process of the Percy Jackson and the Olympian Series? This indeed is good news for all demigods out there! The Percy Jackson and the Olympian series has been a bestseller for more than a decade now, and it’s not out of nothing that the books have a lot of fans until today. The author of the series, Rick Riordan, has a way to captivate his readers’ hearts and mind through his writings. He managed to touch young-adult audiences by using relatable characters and references.
Personally, I enjoyed reading the series a lot because of its main characters. The series revolves around the young Percy Jackson, his best friend Grover Underwood, and the smart-girl-daughter-of-Athena Annabeth Chase, whom he met when he first arrived at the special summer camp for demigods–Camp Half-Blood. The way Riordan wrote his books, it is as if I am a part of the gang, and throughout the first to the last book, I was growing with them. I can sense myself developing along with them. Most importantly, I begin to accept myself for who I am through my journey with the trio.
Why, you ask? Riordan made me aware of my flaws by introducing the trio’s fatal flaws throughout the series. Before we continue discussing the trio’s weaknesses, let’s discuss why it is important to realize that every one of us owns at least one flaw. Remember that you are a human being and that nobody is perfect, but those imperfections are what settle you to the ground. It makes you, well, you, and know that you are likable because of your flaws.
Through her book “You Are Enough: Embrace Your Flaws and Be Happy Being You”, Cheryl Rickman (2021) gave a good example of acknowledging and embracing our flaws. She said, remember why you loved your best friend, it’s not because of their looks, but the silliness you did together due to your flaws! Remember when you both almost fought because of a slight misunderstanding, BUT you’re just easily angered? *insert wink emojis here*. That sure was a memorable moment and shaped your friendship stronger, wasn’t it?
Anyway, let’s get into the fun business! If you haven’t read the series yet, I’ll introduce you to my favorite trio and their humane flaws. I’m sure some of you can relate to theirs, because I do.
- The infamous Percy Jackson
Can you guess what Percy’s fatal flaw is? According to Athena, a.k.a the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy in PJO book 3, The Titan’s Curse, Percy has the fatal flaw of loyalty. While being loyal is good, Percy is considered too loyal to his friends, to the point he is very much predictable to his enemies. Well, some of you might think that being loyal is a good feature one should have, but sacrificing your own being for others is not always good. In fact, it is harmful to your mental state as you only care for your surroundings but not yourself. In order to maintain your physical and mental health, it is best if you could put yourself first before others because at the end of the day, only you are responsible for your own well-being.
- Annabeth-Not-Anyone’s-Sidekick-Chase
Annabeth has been one of my favorite characters for as long as I can remember. She is smart, brave, and independent. She managed to know what to do in all situations. Funnily, it is also her fatal flaw. In PJO book two, The Sea of Monster, she is portrayed as getting swayed by the hypnotic effect of the Siren’s singing. When Annabeth listened to it, she saw a world she had built. She thought she could make anything better than everyone else could. This is called hubris or deadly pride, which not seldom puts her and her friends in deadly situations. While being confident is good, remember that there is always room for improvement within us. So, take notes from your surroundings as everything can give us new learnings, every day, everywhere. Most importantly, push yourself to never stop learning!
- Grover Underwood, our favorite satyr best friend!
Ooh!! I know this one is very common! Yep, as far as I can see, Grover’s flaw is…insecurity. He did not develop a talent very well for a satyr his age at first. All satyrs in Camp Half-Blood are expected to become a searcher, searching for the god of the wild, Pan. Grover is no different, though. Being a searcher was his long-time dream, but he is insecure about his capabilities. However, with constant support from a lot of his friends, Grover is finally able to achieve that dream! Not only that, he became braver and more confident!. So, take notes to choose good friends, or better, be a good friend to others. I promise it will do you good in the future.
Finally, students, it’s time to review what we have learned from our lesson from earlier. First, remember to acknowledge your flaws. It is okay if you have more than one, or even a lot, it means that you know yourself well and are willing to improve yourself. To admit that you are flawed is already half of the process, and it’s not easy. But if you can manage, I promise it will be easier for you. Next, what you have to do is to embrace them. It is a part of you, and it shaped you to your ground. Make sure that those flaws do not put anyone at harm and work on them. Believe that you can be the better version of yourself, and to achieve that, surround yourself with good people. However, remember to always be kind to yourself. I know it will take some time for you to actually feel good after admitting your flaw, but let us be kind to ourselves.
References:
Rickman, C. (2021). You Are Enough: Embrace Your Flaws and Be Happy Being You. Chichester, United Kingdom: Summersdale Publishers Limited.
Riordan, R. (2006). The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2). Los Angeles, California, United States: Hyperion/Miramax Kid.
Riordan, R. (2007). The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3). Los Angeles, California, United States: Hyperion/Miramax Kid.
