One way to interpret the gods in Greek myths is to see them as personifications of forces in
nature like the sea or lightning, or of abstract concepts like wisdom or forethought. Yet
Baldwin says this kind of reading is "an error" that takes the charm out of these tales and
reduces their "precious gold into utilitarian iron." Why might Baldwin believe this? What
happens to characterization or other literary elements in the story if we read the gods as
personifications instead of literally?

Personification of God could result in the use of some of literary elements in the story like similes and metaphors.

Explanation:

Baldwin thought that God even in Greek could not be personified as other elements such as fire, ice, sea and so on. But because of this believe of Baldwin, God was believed and thought just to be normal and not personified.

But because of this use of personification, there was use of some of the literary elements in the story like that of similes and metaphors in the story where there is some kind of comparison of God with personifications and other elements.

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explanation:

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the use supports it by making it seem like the dictators are not bad to the people when the truly are.