The House of Hades

The symbol of a crossroads is introduced in the very first section of the book when Hazel meets Hecate, the goddess of crossroads. Hecate tells Hazel that she is at a crossroads and must choose which path to take. She gives her three different options that all involve risk. With all her options in front of her, Hazel chooses to make her own path and save her friends and the world. Crossroads are a symbol of choice in the book where everyone faces a choice of whether they will rise to the challenge and change their fate. Hazel’s crossroads come full circle in the end when Hecate shows up before her battle with the giant Clytius. Hecate doesn’t offer Hazel any reassurances; she only says it is Hazel’s choice to make, which reinforces crossroads as a symbol of choice—the characters must be brave enough to choose the right path even when they aren’t sure of the consequences. The end of the novel leads the seven demigods to another crossroads where they must send the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood while the seven head to Athens. It is a crossroads where they don’t know if they are making the right choice, but they feel it’s the best course of action, so they make it and hope for a good outcome.