Reading Diary B: Ovid's Metamorphoses III

Ovid's Metamorphoses III

Orpheus and Eurydice: Wow, what a sad story. Losing a significant other is tragic enough as it is, but for them to die on their wedding day is extremely sad. Luckily for Orpheus, he had the ability to beg the gods of Erebus to bring her back to life. His speech was so moving that he won over the gods and they agreed to bring her back to life. All he had to do was not turn his eyes to see her until they exited the Underworld, but of course he broke the only rule he had, thus losing his wife again. Sometimes I feel as if the author had to come up with a reason why she wasn't brought back to life, rather than admitting it was never possible. This story ended very weird and suggested that Orpheus turned into a homosexual and possible pedophile. The quote, "Indeed, he was the first of the Thracian people to transfer his love to young boys, and enjoy their brief springtime, and early flowering, this side of manhood." I may have misinterpreted this sentence, but it sounded like he gave up women.

Ganymede and Hyacinthus: Yet another story where someone dies at a young age. I think this is evidence of the time and how fragile life used to be. I did enjoy how there is honor given to the boy.

Pygmalion: I recognized the name Pygmalion from the well known phenomenon, the Pygmalion effect, where people either live up to or down to their expectations. Through the eyes of Pygmalion, this can be seen in both the women and the statue. First the women because he sees them as prostitutes and no longer has attraction to them, thus living down to his expectation. With the statue on the other hand, he sees the statue as perfect and beautiful, and becomes real by living up to his expectation.

(Pygmalion and the Statue, Regnault)

Myrrha and Cinyras, Myrrha and the Nurse, Myrrha's Punishment: These were disturbing. 

The Death of Adonis: It seems to be a common theme that the death of a young boy leads to them becoming flowers or being remembered as flowers.

I really enjoyed these stories. The imagery was fantastic as usual, and the stories were never dull.