Lex and Lana, Zeus and Hera
Recently a fellow L/Ler, Avalee, prompted me, by way of discussion on DTS, to revisit the Zeus/Hera parallels I've seen in Lex/Lana. Here's a comparative essay that was posted at Confessions on March 10, 2006. This was written before Hypnotic or Fragile aired so it reflects L/L's pre-romantic period. However, certain elements of Lex and Lana's relationship remain constant. Except for a few revised sentences, the original main text remains, and a new conclusion has been added to reflect early S6 developments.
The geek in me can't be suppressed. :) Finding L/L parallels with historical or literary figures is quite entertaining, since it undergirds an impression (or creates an illusion) of the writers creativity in terms of Lex and Lana's depth. Although it may be considered obscure, there are detectable lines that can be drawn between Zeus/Hera and Lex/Lana, so I decided to explore this more. Here's the first edition of my take.
High-level power plays of the male partner. One of the first parallels between Zeus and Lex can be found in Lex's epic conflict with his father, Lionel Luthor. The Zeus/Cronus struggle saw the dissolution of one legacy and the start of another. In writing for Pantheon, Ron Leadbetter says, "When Zeus had grown into a young man he returned to his father's domain, . . . . However, Zeus led the revolt against his father and the dynasty of the Titans, defeated them and then banished them." Similarly, propelled by his father's deceit and unique brand of parenting, Lex was led to revolt against Lionel in Tempest, Insurgence, Skinwalker, Accelerate, Crisis, Legacy, Truth, Covenant, Gone and Vengeance, among other episodes. Once Lionel was incarcerated at the close of S3, Lex took over LuthorCorp and its projects. After Lionel's release from prison in S4, the son still seemed to be the master of the father, with Lionel relegated to the guesthouse. After his real and alternate experiences in Lex-mas, Lex decidedly takes a self-preservation route paved with power and money. When Lionel's hands reached for control of LuthorCorp in Vengeance, Lex obstructed his take-over. Therein lies another parallel, since Zeus's sometimes rash power-wielding is also detected in Lex as early Insurgence, where he rashly retaliates against his father, and as recently as Cyborg, where he spearheads unethical bionic research on Victor Stone.
High-level power plays of the male partner in a relationship. Zeus's overuse of power, especially in his romantic/sexual pursuits, was something I first referenced when the unbridled side of Lex (Alexander) visually took Lana in during Onyx, giving her the ultimatum to "live like a queen" with him or face ruin. Zeus was known for seducing most of the women with whom he had relationships by trickery or assault, including Hera. Keeping in line with Zeus's gift of seduction, Lex has earned the reputation of being a playboy since S1. In S4 we learned he embarked upon a series of short-term sexual relationships. Specific to Hera, one version of their love story says that he fell in love with her, but she did not return the affection. Driven by his desire for her, he turned himself into a wounded bird with which Hera fell in love and cared for. Once in her arms, Zeus returned to his old form. Like Zeus, Lex is far ahead of Lana in terms of his romantic feelings. She has not yet reciprocated his feelings, even though she is very aware of them (Onyx, Splinter, Lockdown, Reckoning). However, it appears his emotional honesty has begun to awaken her own desire, which understandably scares her, partly because of her commitment to Clark Kent and partly because she has been skeptical of Lex's motives around her since S1 (Metamorphosis, Craving, Nicodemus, Spell, Commencement, Splinter). Lex is a psychological and ethical mess, but he shields that part of himself from Lana. He wants her to like him and he makes himself emotionally and physically available to her, but he hasn't used any complicated stratagem to have her. Lana has responded by being his friend (Shattered, Memoria, Lockdown). Still, he wants more. Will he go into Zeus-mode to have her? Co-executive producer, John Litvak reveals in April 2006's issue of Sci-Fi magazine that Lex will indeed act on his desire for Lana by manipulating Clark and Lana's failing relationship.
High-level emotiveness of the female partner. Micha F. Lindemans says Zeus and Hera had dramatic conflicts, "Even Zeus usually could not stand up to her. Sometimes, when he got angry, he chained her to the mountain of Olympus by fastening anvils to her feet" (www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hera/html). Lex and Lana are not as dramatic. However, like Hera, Lana tends to be heavy-handed in expressing her beliefs, even resorting to manipulation when she's insecure (Fever, Lucy). She actively tries to trust Lex, but she has questioned his integrity in Mortal, Hidden, Splinter, and Lockdown, not to mention the countless times she's challenged his trustworthiness and his care in episodes like Drone, Heat, and Commencement. Lex's level-headedness renders him rather accommodating during her rants. However, he often "chains her" by either prompting her to rethink her line of reasoning (Talisman, Hidden) or by bluntly defending his rationale (Recruit, Splinter).
Cycles of strong attachment, detachment and reattachment, with issues of trust. Trust was a key issue between Hera and Zeus when they came to blows over his actions, her jealousy, or their differing perceptions of mortals. Michael Stewart provides a good summary of Hera's movements during the first of Iliad's books where Hera accuses Zeus of secrecy and conspiracy. Zeus tells her he would provide information to her as he believes is necessary ("Hera", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenet.com/myths/bios/hera.html. November 14, 2005). Their exchange sounded much like Lana's confrontations with Lex about his secrets where he admitted he was withholding information to protect her and he would disclose information as needed (Recruit, Commencement, Splinter). In her search for security and someone to trust, Lana often tests the trustworthiness of others. With Lex, she is especially hyperaware and they have been in conflict about his intentions and secrecy during S4 and early in S5. Her approach made him either apologetic, defensive or both (Spell, Recruit, Lockdown). Ironically, her questioning mirrors own self-questioning, since she has issues with truth and transparency as well. Nevertheless, like Hera who stayed with Zeus in spite of the many times he frustrated her, Lana has chosen to trust and reconnect with Lex after varying periods of detachment (Zero, Commencement, Splinter, Lockdown, Tomb, Cyborg).
Joint involvement in large projects. Later on, Zeus found himself in the middle of the Trojan War, not only because he had sons involved, but also because Hera was emotionally invested in the outcome. In seeking her own interests, Hera fought with him, sought his help and seduced him. Similarly, Lex likely had his own agenda in helping Chloe during Tomb and probably wouldn't have gotten involved at all. But he becomes involved, primarily because Lana asks for his help. Their joint involvement, yet peripheral view, in Chloe's mental care during Tomb also implies their quasi-Zeus/Hera dynamic. The foundation of Lex and Lana's friendship was first laid during their partnership in restoring/running the coffee-house/theater, The Talon. Although the partnership was suspended at S3's close, it was revived in Splinter as they attempted to unearth answers to questions instigated by the meteor showers that hit Smallville in 1989 and 2005.
ADAPTED CONCLUSION: With the L/L relationship firmly established in S6, new parallels are beginning to surface. Like Hera, Lana continues to challenge Lex's trustworthiness, reacting to surveillance cameras in her room at the Luthor Mansion (Sneeze) and tabloid reports of her as the "Next Lex Girl" (Wither). As in their past confrontations concerning her issues of trust and security, he has been simultaneously understanding and self-protective. In the end, they reach a satisfactory compromise. Like Hera, who would leave Zeus and then return out of love or loyalty or both, Lana returns to Lex's side in Wither after she questions his part in the relationship. In addition, the parallels for "joint involvement" continue, particularly with Lana's alliance with Lex against Lionel which is very similar to Hera's alliance with Zeus and their other siblings against Cronus (Arrow). Though they passionately challenge each other's strengths and vulnerabilities, Hera is considered Zeus' "queen" and the mother of his legitimate royal children. It appears that Lana already is or can be the same for Lex. I find the whole thing fascinating and I'm sure there's a lot more we can mine from the Zeus/Hera parallel. Let's see if the parallels hold.
Main sources:
http://homepage.mac.com
http://www.pantheon.org