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The Minotaur is a terrifying monster who is half bull and half man. His sight and hearing are terrible, so he scopes out his victims through smell. Once charging, however, he cannot change direction easily. Percy, Grover, and Sally are attacked by the Minotaur while they are on their way to Camp Half-Blood. Percy’s fight with the Minotaur has a massive impact on his character development. To begin with, the Minotaur appears to kill Percy’s beloved mom, catalyzing Percy’s decision to travel to the Underworld so he can try to save her. The fight on Half-Blood Hill is further significant because it highlights not just Percy’s heroic instincts, but also his demigod abilities. Percy selflessly tries to save the semi-unconscious Grover, even though it would have been much easier to abandon him and save himself, and his dedication showcases that Percy has the integrity and moral code to be a proper hero. Furthermore, as with Mrs. Dodd, Percy appears to summon fighter reflexes and battle skills from somewhere within himself while he battles the monster. After pulling off an impressive tactical move, in which he uses the Minotaur’s head as a springboard to turn in midair and land on the monster’s neck, Percy asks himself how he was able to do that, hinting that his true identity will soon be revealed. He also manages to kill the creature by ripping off its horn and using it to stab the Minotaur in the ribs. Percy’s battle with the Minotaur allows him to draw on innate demigod abilities that had been lying dormant. This is a crucial moment for Percy; he will spend the rest of the novel, and the rest of the series for that matter, improving upon his natural powers.
