Medusa (to Percy and Annabeth): We are not our parents, until we choose to be. You two have chosen. A daughter of a self-righteous mother, who chose self-righteousness for herself. And you, you could have shown your father what it means to stand up for someone you love. You could choose to save your mother instead of doing your father’s bidding. If neither of you will help teach these lessons, perhaps you should be the lessons. When I ship your statues to Olympus… maybe that will get my point across even better.
Where does this quote come from? (Source)
This quote comes from a TV series ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’. The scene where this moment comes from is in Season 1 Episode 3, with the title of ‘We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium’ (1×03). Percy Jackson is based on a book series of the same name written by Rick Riordan. The series Percy Jackson and the Olympians is produced by Disney Branded Television and 20th Television (Disney+)
- TV Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
- Season: 1
- Episode: 3
- Episode Name: We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium
- Production: Disney Branded Television, 20th Television (Disney+)
Why we collected this quote
We chose this because it is one of the show’s central themes. It’s a powerful statement about free will and breaking generational trauma.
What does this quote mean? (Meaning & Context)
Medusa sees that Percy and Annabeth are blindly following their parents’ orders. She warns them that they have a choice: they can repeat their parents’ mistakes and hatreds, or they can choose to be different. It’s a chilling but wise lesson delivered by a “villain.”
Book vs TV Series
While the book implies that heroes must forge their own paths, this quote is one of the show’s most explicit statements of its core theme: free will versus inherited fate. Coming from Medusa, it’s a direct warning to Percy and Annabeth not to repeat the ancient rivalries and hatreds of their parents. It immediately frames the quest not just as finding the lightning bolt, but as a journey to decide who they want to become.
