Saturday, May 16, 2020
Transformations in Ovids Metamorphosis Essay - 1367 Words
Transformations in Ovids Metamorphosis Transformations from one shape or form into another are the central theme in Ovids Metamorphoses. The popularity and timelessness of this work stems from the manner of story telling. Ovid takes stories relevant to his culture and time period, and weaves them together into one work with a connecting theme of transformation throughout. The thread of humor that runs through Metamorphoses is consistent with the satire and commentary of the work. The theme is presented in the opening lines of Metamorphoses, where the poet invokes the gods, who are responsible for the changes, to look favorably on his efforts to compose. The changes are of many kinds: from human to animal, animal to human, thing toâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Upon encountering Daphne, Apollo falls madly in love with her. Overcome by Cupids arrow, Apollo sets aside reason and becomes engulfed by his hope of attaining his love. Before being transformed, Apollo would most likely have paid little or no attention to Daphne, b ut now, Apollo is overcome by his lust for beauty. Ovid compares Apollos love for Daphne to a flame in a brush. This metaphor used by Ovid is very effective. The change that goes through Apollo is very sudden and fast. The imagery of a flame rapidly spreading through brush conveys the idea of an almost violent change. The god is consumed with a desire for the girl. His chase is fueled by a hope to overcome the ultimate futility of his actions. He sees every part of her as beautiful, her eyes, hair, face and even speculates as to the beauty of her hidden regions. Unsatisfied by the sight of Daphne and wanting more than just a glimpse of her beauty, Apollo follows Daphne as a hound chases a rabbit. The hope for his fruitless love keeps Apollo close on Daphnes trail, and fear motivates Daphne to stay just out of reach. When Ovid tries to convey the intensity of the flight, he says, He gave the fleeing maiden no respite, but followed close on her heels, and his breath touched the locks that lay scattered on her neck,;(p. 43) Finally, burdened by mortal exhaustion, Daphne prays to her father to deliver her from her torment. As the words leave her mouth, Daphne is transformed for the secondShow MoreRelatedKafka s Metamorphosis : Transformation, Adaptation, And Death1034 Words à |à 5 PagesIn Franz Kafkaââ¬â¢s Metamorphosis Gregor Samsa goes through a great metamorphosis putting great strain on his family. In Ovidââ¬â¢s Metamorphosis Daphne too endures a transformation. While Kafkaââ¬â¢s metamorphosis is a metaphor Ovidââ¬â¢s is a myth. Even though these two tales are very different and are styled differently they go through the same steps of transformation. Both Gregor Samsa and Daphne experience the transformation, adaptation, and death. Kafka begins with the transformation of Gregor Samsa intoRead More Tracing Changes in Pythagoras Speech in Ovids Metamorphoses1381 Words à |à 6 PagesChanges in Pythagoras Speech in Ovids Metamorphoses à Change in Ovid, as well as in life, seems to be the only constant.à à Change is the subject of the Metamorphoses and Ovids purpose in recounting myths is established from the very beginning: My intention is to tell of bodies changed to different forms... with a poem that runs from the worlds beginning to our own days (1.1-4).à From this foundation, Ovid launches into his stories, using metamorphosis more as a vehicle for telling hisRead MoreApollos Human Gardening in Ovids Metamorphoses Essays1108 Words à |à 5 PagesApollos Human Gardening in Ovids Metamorphoses In Ovids epic poem Metamorphoses, he uses many transformations of humanoids to explain the existence of many natural entities such as animals, plants, rivers, and so forth. Ovid uses the Roman gods to be the active agents in many of the metamorphoses, although some of them are caused simply by the will of the being. In the Melville translation of Metamorphoses, the stories The Sun in Love (book IV, ln226-284) and Hyacinth (book X, ln170-239)Read MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka1205 Words à |à 5 PagesIn the novel The Metamorphosis, author Franz Kafka transforms Gregor Samsa, an average citizen working as a commercial retailer, into a vermin. This transformation and the effects of such transformation on both his family and himself directly correlate to the messages Ovid portrays in Metamorphoses. While both works convey the ideas that a human s situation in life is always temporary, lust leads to unfavorable circumstances, and that the stubborn must change, in the Metamorphosi s, Kafka portraysRead MoreReflection Of Ovids Metamorphoss1330 Words à |à 6 PagesOvids Metamorphoses is regarded as a masterpiece among the great classical Latin poems. 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As well as other themesRead MoreRape And The Mortal Rapists1437 Words à |à 6 Pages1) the portrayal of a powerless and sexualised female, 2) the assertion of dominance and control from a passionately desirous male god, and 3) the act of metamorphosis that precedes the rape. The assertion that gods can get away with rape without penalty as opposed to human rapists who often suffer dire consequences is deeply entrenched in Ovidââ¬â¢s Metamorphoses and other rape myths in classical narrative. Apollo is not punished for chasing after maiden nymph Daphne and causing her to transform intoRead MoreThe Metamorphoses By Ovid s Metamorphoses1844 Words à |à 8 Pages Ovidââ¬â¢s Metamorphoses tells the story of Diana and Actaeon, the goddess of the hunt and a man who unwittingly stumbles upon the sacred grotto of Gargaphia while Diana is bathing with her nymphs. The outraged goddess transforms Actaeon into a stag, and ironically, his own hunting dogs kill him. Rembrandtââ¬â¢s painting of Diana, Actaeon, and Callisto is an artistic interpretation of Book III ââ¬â and a bit of Book II- of the Metamorphoses, providing a visual insight of the scene that casts Actaeonââ¬â¢s unfortunateRead More Jealousy and Desire in Ovids Metamorphoses Essay examples8 09 Words à |à 4 PagesJealousy and Desire in Ovids Metamorphoses à à à Passionate lust is a blinding force. When jealousy and desire control actions, the outcome is never what it is envisioned to be. Ovids Metamorphoses provides an clear example of love turned terribly wrong. Throughout the novel, overwhelming desire controls actions and emotions, leaving behind sadness and grief wherever it strikes. With this kind of love, nobody gets what he or she wants in the end. à The first strong example ofRead MoreAnalysis Of Ovid s The Apollo Essay1556 Words à |à 7 Pages Response Paper Ovidââ¬â¢s metamorphosis contains legends that depict the very destructive nature of love and the many different forms it possesses. The power of love can be overwhelming in the sense of obsession or consumption of the whole self, resulting in destructive consequences for the victims of that power. The stories written by Ovid will be explored in the light of how the lack of trying to control the powerful nature of love will result in a transformation of the mind, changing sanity and common
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