An Investigation into the Harmful Impacts of Toxic Masculinity Depicted in Madeline Miller’s “The Song of Achilles”

Abstract

This qualitative study aims to investigate two aspects of toxic masculinity in the novel “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller. These two aspects are the detrimental effects of toxic masculinity on the male and female characters of the novel. By using Transactional Reader-response theory and content analysis, the two detrimental effects found to be present in the novel are internalised homophobia and the sexual objectification of women. In the classic case of internalised homophobia, one takes all the judgement, hatred, stereotypes, and hostility towards LGBT community and directs it to themselves. Meanwhile, sexually objectifying women is common in Greek society as found in this novel, where women are reduced to only their looks. The results of this study also showed that women in the novel can contribute to toxic masculinity, by both practicing it and teaching it to their sons.