Ariadne is based on several classical myths—most notably, that of Theseus and the Minotaur. Saint’s version is mostly a faithful retelling, with the major difference being her decision to place Ariadne rather than the traditionally heroic Theseus at the story’s center. There are many variations of the original myth, but a common thread throughout is Theseus’s portrayal as a brave and triumphant hero who sacrifices himself for his people. His defeat of the Minotaur threatens the tyrannical King Minos’s rule, symbolizing a triumph of good over evil.

However, viewing the story through Ariadne’s lens greatly complicates the reader’s perception of Theseus. Ariadne initially views Theseus as a kind and selfless hero, but this view is abruptly shattered when he abandons her on the island of Naxos. Theseus’s decision plays out in various ways in the original myth: According to some sources, Ariadne was indeed killed by Artemis as Theseus claims in the novel. In others, Dionysus forces Theseus to leave her, as the god wants to marry Ariadne himself. Ariadne heavily implies that Theseus planned to abandon her all along, but Saint leaves this intentionally ambiguous. In doing so, Saint draws attention to the traditionally heroic Theseus’s less-than-noble actions, and by extension uses the myth to explore

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