The Son of Neptune

“You could leave me here at the mercy of the gorgons and go to the ocean. You’d make it there safely, I guarantee. The gorgons will be quite happy to attack me and let you go. In the sea, no monster would bother you. You could begin a new life, live to a ripe old age, and escape a great deal of pain and misery that is in your future.”

Juno, disguised as a human named June, tests Percy to determine his ability to face the impending trials he is about to endure. She begins the rising action as she presents Percy with a choice to carry her into the Roman camp, or to seek safety in the sea. She also alludes to Percy’s lineage as Poseidon’s son by reminding him that he would be left unbothered in the sea, the domain of his father.

“Adult demigods. Demigods who could live without fear, get married, raise a family. Percy couldn’t quite wrap his mind around that. It seemed too good to be true.”

Confronted with the city of New Rome built beside Camp Jupiter, Percy marvels at demigods who survived to adulthood. Although he has no memories of his past life, he knows it is unique for the demigods to have reached the age of maturity and aged out of the camp. It offers him hope for the future and highlights the violence and lack of stability he left behind in the Greek camp.

“Hazel felt like she’d just introduced two nuclear bombs. Now she was waiting to see which one exploded first.”

Hazel has just introduced her half-brother, Nico di Angelo, to Percy Jackson. Her reaction makes it clear that Nico and Percy have a history with one another, but Percy cannot recall it and Nico refuses to admit to it. This interaction foreshadows Nico’s continued suspicious behavior, accumulating and withholding information, adding mystery and suspense to his character.