Percy Jackson & The Olympians is a book series by Rick Riordan that is beloved by many, even more so after the positive reactions to the Disney+ adaptation. The books are full of funny one-liners and heartfelt moments, and the weaving of Greek mythology into their narrative is both captivating and accessible to readers of all ages. These novels are also known for their fantastic and loveable characters, each with their own unique personalities, pasts, and personal arcs.
One such character is Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus.
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series.
Who is Thalia Grace?
Thalia is a tough and stubborn demigod who always dons a punk-goth aesthetic. She’s a natural leader, and she deeply cares about her friends and companions. She’s a brilliant and powerful fighter, too, with lightning powers and a terrifying shield depicting Medusa’s head called Aegis, both of which she has thanks to her dad. Tamara Smart has been cast to play her in the show.
Prior to the events of The Lightning Thief, Thalia had run away from home and befriended a young Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, and Luke Castellan, son of Hermes. She sacrificed herself to make sure her friends reached Camp Half-Blood, and Zeus had turned her into a pine tree that overlooked the camp’s borders.
She returns to the land of the living in The Sea of Monsters, thanks to the Golden Fleece’s healing properties, and later, in The Titan’s Curse, she becomes the lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis.
While Thalia doesn’t have as big of a role in the series as some other characters, she still makes a major impact, and there is so much to learn from her. Read on to hear why Thalia Grace is a great role model for readers of any age.
She’s aware of her flaws.
Like other heroes in Greek stories, Thalia has a fatal flaw; she is more easily tempted by power than others. This rears its head in The Titan’s Curse, when she is nearly convinced to kill the Ophiotaurus, a mythical creature that’s half-cow and half-serpent, in order to gain its powers.
Though Thalia can’t change this part of herself, being aware of it means she can safeguard herself from those temptations in the future. It’s why she joins the Hunters of Artemis; by doing so, she stops aging so that she won’t be the one to fulfill the series’ Great Prophecy, in which a child of Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades has to make a decision that could save or destroy Olympus when they turn 16.
Like Thalia, it’s important for us to know our weaknesses and to find ways to work on them. Even if we can’t erase them, we can make ourselves stronger and avoid falling victim to our flaws.
She is loyal to those who’ve earned it.
It can be easy to want to be blindly loyal to everyone we care about, but Thalia shows us that isn’t always deserved. For example, Thalia and Percy may not always get along, but they protect and support one another when they each need it. In The Last Olympian, when Percy and his campers are outnumbered by Kronos’ army, Thalia is there with her hunters, ready to help.
Meanwhile, despite her longer history with Luke, she understands he’s changed and is a threat because of his allegiance to Kronos. She knows she can’t convince him that he’s making the wrong choice, and even though it deeply hurts her to do so, she instead takes a stand against him alongside the people who have proven they have her back.
Thalia shows us the importance of being a fiercely loyal friend while reminding us to also be discerning and willing to let go when relationships turn sour.
She is confident in herself.
It may not be surprising that Thalia is confident in her skills – she is a powerful demigod and excellent fighter after all – but confidence doesn’t come naturally to everyone, even those like her. Percy is also incredibly strong but often lacks that confidence. Thalia, on the other hand, knows what she’s capable of. She’s able to head into battles feeling levelheaded and self-assured, making it seemingly easier for her to get the job done.
While we may not be fighting ancient monsters or stopping dangerous Titans, we can all learn to be more confident, but not conceited, like Thalia. When we feel sure of ourselves and what we can do, we can be braver about doing new or difficult things and helping those who would benefit from what we have to offer.
Well-written upstanding characters can be a good guide for us. They show us who we can be and help us understand what values, traits, and morals matter to us. Thalia does just that, especially as a strong, female character. Let her be a reminder to appreciate and utilize our inner strength, and maybe by following her example, we can help others grow too.
Want to read even more Percy Jackson content? Check out this article.
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