Most of the Greek and Roman myths you read in high school were re-tellings of stories from Ovid's Metamorphoses. Choose your favorite myth and read Ovid's version of that myth. Read also one of the Ovid myths that you *hadn't* read before. Cite one example for each myth that shows particularly well Ovid's "insight into the human condition."If you want to get the overall picture of the Metamorphoses, see this excellent introduction and commentary by Larry Brown.
Hercules: Reading the Agony of Hercules was very gruesome to read. Never when reading a story of Hercules have I read something very gruesome. Hercules was in massive amount of pain when he was trying to remove the shirt he got from Nessus. I also never heard of Nessus in the story of Hercules. Normally I heard of Hercules as a really strong man who was nearly impossible to inflict pain too. But reading this story that Ovid created of Hercules was incredible. It's far more gruesome and interesting. The insight of human condition I see is the human pain condition. More or less human conflict was on Hercules with him trying to remove the shirt that Nessus gave him. The boiling of skin and the pain he fought against. He was in conflict with removing the shirt that was given to him.
ReplyDeleteThe transformation of Byblis: I have never heard of this story before. But when looking at this story and applying the "insight of the human condition" I see a particularly good line. ‘Why, as far as that is concerned, everything, unerringly, warned me not to give way to my desire, at the moment when the tablets fell, as I was giving orders for them to be taken to him, meaning that my hopes would also fall away. Should not, perhaps, the day, or my whole intention, more so the day, have been altered? The god himself issued a warning, and gave a clear sign, if I had not been crazed with love. This line shows relationship between women and man as well as relationship between man and god. The love between Byblis and Caunus was a strong one and led to many conflicts for Byblis. With Caunus leaving Byblis she went crazy. This women was crazy for this man and she basically transformed into river by nymphs. Basically Byblis was a girl who fell in love with her own brother Caunus and he refused her. She tried to take her own life but nymphs saved her by transforming her into a river. A lot of conflict and love was in this story. Death was almost brought up in this story but she was saved but being turned into a river doesn't sound much better than death.
The first story I chose to read was Orpheus and Eurydice. Some lines in this story that do well at showing the human condition are: "Afraid she was no longer there, and eager to see her, the lover turned his eyes. In an instant she dropped back, and he, unhappy man, stretching out his arms to hold her and be held, clutched at nothing but the receding air. Dying a second time, now, there was no complaint to her husband." This story deals with Orpheus, who had recently lost his wife as a result of a snakebite. He descended into the underworld and was allowed to take her back up, but looked back, which broke his bargain and sent Eurydice back into the underworld. These lines in particular help show how fate is inevitable. Orpheus needed confirmation that his wife was behind him, but ended up losing her as a result. She did not seem mad at him looking back, and it seems like she accepted fate. I think this story does a great job at illustrating how fate always catches up, no matter how one may try to change it.
ReplyDeleteThe other story I chose to read was about the Plague at Aegina and the Myrmidons. The line I chose is: "A terrible plague afflicted the people through the unjust anger of Juno, detesting us because our island had been named after my mother, her rival." The story itself is about a plague that wiped out nearly an entire island, whilst only Aeacus and his sons survived. He prayed, and an entire group of people were there to serve him in the morning, having being named the Myrmidons (Their name had to do with them being made from ants). The line I chose relates to the human condition in that the relationship between the people and gods was really bad. An island was named after a god's rival, causing her to condemn nearly every person living their through a plague. The gods seemed to care very little about the people, abusing their powers and choosing who lives and who dies based on a whim. Every little thing that might slightly annoy a god could lead to a catastrophe, so avoiding their anger was seemingly pointless.
"He was making offerings of incense and reciting prayers over the first flames, and pouring a libation bowl of wine on to the marble altar. The power of the venom, warmed and released by the flames, dissolved, dispersing widely through the limbs of Hercules. With his usual courage, he repressed his groans while he could. When his strength to endure the venom was exhausted, he overturned the altar, and filled woody Oeta with his shouts."
ReplyDeleteI imagine a lot of people recognize the name Hercules when searching for a familiarity. This passage showcases the relationship between man and gods. Hercules went through immense pain as he was giving an offering to a god. People will go through intense struggle, torture, and sometimes death in the name of their god(s).
Book III: Many men have entered the bedrooms of chaste women in the name of the gods.
I think this little snippet shows the relationship between man and woman. There are so many stories and tragedies that either begin or end with a man being seduced by a woman or a man taking advantage of a woman. In stories like these, men are very easily persuaded by beautiful women, so this is a very common relationship between the two.
-Lauren Bland
The first myth that I chose was Metamorphosis Book V
ReplyDelete“They all deserved the punishment they suffered, except one of Perseus’s warriors. While he was fighting on his side, Aconteus, saw the Gorgon’s head and took the shape of hardened stone. Astyages struck him with his long sword thinking he was still alive, and the blade gave a high-pitched ringing noise. While Astyages stood there amazed, the same power transformed him, and he remained there with a wondering look on his marble face. It would take a long time to tell the names of the middle ranks of men: two hundred bodies survived the fight, and two hundred bodies were turned to stone, at the sight of the Gorgon’s head.”
With this blatantly shows how much the Romans cared about individuals' heads when they killed them. This however has been a part of Roman society for an extended period of time. Throughout the time period that we have studied thus far, we have seen instances of individuals who are killed during battle, having their heads chopped off, and presented to other individuals or the entire city as a trophy. One of the reasons for this is to send a message and certainly use it as a power move to the rest of the people. I’d be curious to see how long of a tradition this continues to be, not only in Roman society but society as a whole as well, of if this was a tradition that moved around to different cultures and societies.
The second myth that I chose was Metamorphosis Book Xl
“Peleus was happy in his wife and son and was a man for whom all things were successful, if you exclude the crime of killing his brother Phocus. Guilty of shedding his brother’s blood, exiled from his father’s country, the soil of Trachin gave him sanctuary. Here Ceyx, son of Lucifer, the morning star, ruled, without force or shedding blood, his face filled with his father’s radiance. At that time he was sad and unlike his normal self, mourning the loss of his brother, Daedalion. The son of Aeacus came to him, weary with cares and travel, and entered the city with a few companions. He left the flocks of sheep and cattle he had brought with him in a shady valley not far from the city walls. When he was first allowed to meet the king, he held out the draped olive branch of the suppliant and told him whose son he was, concealed his crime, and lied about the cause of his flight. He begged to be allowed to support himself in the city or the fields. The king of Trachis replied with these kind words: ‘Peleus, the opportunities in our kingdom are open even to the lower ranks, and I do not rule an inhospitable realm. Add to this willingness, the powerful influence of a noble name, and your being the grandson of Jove. So waste no time in supplication! You will receive all that you wish. Take a share of everything you see, and call it yours! I wish what you see was better than it is!”
I went with a sort of different approach with my second one here. Instead of going with heads chopping off, I talked about Peleus and killing his own brother. The importance of human life, particularly human life that was a part of the family wasn’t particularly high. Individuals would kill their own family members if it meant they were able to become higher in the Roman government, or if it would benefit them as a whole. Killing your own family members could be perceived as ruthless, and particularly so, but I think killing your family members without a trace is that much more intimidating. On top of that, being able to continue your life while killing someone in your family is very interesting to me, but it was typical of Roman culture. It wasn’t just men too, women would also do the same, whether it was through orders from their men, or even just to maintain some type of power in Roman society. The bottom line was that most people didn’t care for the human condition, as long as it provided them with strength and stability through the future.
Nile Hesson
The first one I looked at was The Agony of Hercules. When Hercules is taking off the shirt and its pulling skin off and causing harm shows some insight to the human condition. To me to shows that not every one has your best interests in mind. He was given a shirt of Nessus which had the poison of Lernean Hydra on it. Those who you know or think are fiends might not have you in mind. Which can come back to harm you.
ReplyDeleteThe next one I choose was the transformation of the Maenads. This is one that I have never read before. Found it quite interesting, I saw the human condition of grief and revenge almost. Lyaeus was grieving over the death of Orpheus wanted revenge. He wanted some one to pay for the death of Orpheus. And that was the Thracian women who saw it happen. Lyaeus felt so much grief which is something that many have to go through.
Book IV 753-803, Perseus tells the story of Medusa: "And while a deep sleep held the snakes and herself, he struck her head from her neck. And the swift winged horse Pegasus and his brother the warrior Chrysaor, were born from their mother’s blood. He told of his long journeys, of dangers that were not imaginary ones, what seas and lands he had seen below from his high flight, and what stars he had brushed against with beating wings."
ReplyDeleteThis was a story that I have many, many retellings of, from multiple points of view. What I found interesting about this story, and this quote specifically, was the sense of boastfulness and pride Perseus gained from slaying a woman as she was sleeping and unable to defend herself or attack back. Regardless of your interpretation of this myth, this death was not noble or glorious. This shows the human condition in that most people are inherently inclined to unearned pride, bordering on hubris.
Book VI 549-619, Philomela is mutilated/the truth is revealed: "He controlled himself sufficiently to return to Procne, who, seeing him returned, asked where her sister was. He, with false mourning, told of a fictitious funeral, and tears gave it credence. Procne tore her glistening clothes, with their gold hems, from her shoulders, and put on black robes, and built an empty tomb, and mistakenly brought offerings, and lamented the fate of a sister, not yet due to be lamented in that way." and "With her face turned towards the ground, wanting to swear by the gods, and call them to witness, that her shame had been visited on her by force, she made signs with her hands in place of speech. Procne burned, and could not control her anger, reproaching her sister for weeping, saying ‘Now is not the time for tears, but for the sword, or for what overcomes the sword, if you know of such a thing. I am prepared for any wickedness, sister."
This was a story that I had not heard very much about, aside from side references in other retellings. I also chose two of the stories because they were both short and linked together nicely. I feel that these two quotes show a very specific aspect of the human condition: the connection between women. Yes, Philomela and Procne are sisters, but the concept of a woman protecting and in some cases avenging a wronged woman are not uncommon.
-Haylee Bohnet
From the Pythagoras myth: "‘Human beings, stop desecrating your bodies with impious foodstuffs. There are crops; there are apples weighing down the branches; and ripening grapes on the vines; there are flavoursome herbs; and those that can be rendered mild and gentle over the flames; and you do not lack flowing milk; or honey fragrant from the flowering thyme. The earth, prodigal of its wealth, supplies you with gentle sustenance, and offers you food without killing or shedding blood."
ReplyDelete-I can relate to this line very much so I know the human condition is understood when it talks of the health message and not feeding yourself foods that aren't good for you, if only it would've been known how much worse food was going to get.
In the myth of Morpheus: " My mind would treat me more cruelly than the sea, if I should try to live on, and fight to overcome my sorrow! But I shall not fight, nor leave you, my poor husband, and at least now I shall come as your companion. If not the sepulchral urn the lettered stone will join us: if I shall not touch you, bone to my bone, still I will touch you, name to name.’ Grief choked further words, and lamentation took their place wholly, and sighs drawn from a stricken heart."
-The human condition is understood here in painting the image of grief from a lost one. Even in a mythological story, characters can feel what we feel as humans meaning what we feel is superior to any made up idea that one could think and write up.
While I never had to read it, I grew up watching a lot of Disney movies one of which was Hercules. The part I really want to focus on about this story is the death and transformation of Hercules. In the movie, he almost dies when he dives into the pool of lost souls and swims after and saves Meg's soul, bringing it back to the overworld from the underworld, and bringing her back to life. He then decides that he wants to stay on Earth with her when he is taken back up to Mount Olympus with her and transforms into a god. However, this doesn't happen in the real story of Hercules at all. Hercules gave a speech telling the gods he is happy they fear him since he himself is a god, he is essentially "burned" to death by flames supplied by the god Philoctetes, he turns into a giant snake at his transformation, and the father of the gods carries him up in his four-horse chariot and sets him among the stars, turning him into the constellation Serpens Cauda.
ReplyDelete- I think the way this story is told, especially the transformation, is very relevant to the human condition. It really puts forth the metaphor that no matter how good a person is, there will always be an evil side (the snake) that they won't show until they are pushed to their limits and they absolutely have to.
The second story I read was the plague. One of the biggest things I noticed while reading it was that when it comes to sickness, it is not always the doctor's fault, and if a person is sick, it is their responsibility to either stay away from people or get them sick and make them die. "No one can control it, and it breaks out fiercely among the doctors themselves, and the practice of their skill condemns the practitioners. The nearer people are to the sick, and the mire selflessly they attend them, the more swiftly they meet their fate, and as hope of recovery deserts them, and they see the end of their illness only in death, they give way to their desires, and ignore what it good for them, since nothing is any good."
- This passage clearly states that life is pretty much makes it clear that the human condition is to get sick and die, and if that happens, it is their own fault.