Common Themes In Semele And The Birth Of Bacchus

In Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” there are many different themes that coincide with the many different stories. There is no plot line that runs straight through this book, but rather common themes that help to connect these stories in various ways. The story of “Semele and the Birth of Bacchus” caught my attention, because Juno becomes increasingly more vengeful compared to the previous stories. When she realizes that Semele is pregnant she is furious, to say the least. She did not only take the affair as an attack on her marriage but also as an attack on her self-confidence. Juno does not like being Jove’s “sloppy seconds” she tries to remind herself of her own power in the passage above as a kind of “pep talk”. She says “…If I am well named Almighty Juno, if I am fit to wield my jeweled scepter…” Juno is attempting to motivate herself. She is self-conscious and broken at this point in the story. Jove just keeps “leaving” her to be with other women who are not goddesses. Juno can not seem to understand why she is

In her eyes, Juno probably thinks she is being “just” by killing or cursing the woman who was with Jove. She acts rashly and never thinks about long term consequences. Juno literally states “Her, I will destroy”, and she means it. Juno instead of choosing to face her husband and talk about their relationship issues decides to avoid confrontation about Jove’s infidelity and punishes these women. In Semele’s case, she disguises herself as an old woman and convinces Semele to demand that Jove makes love to her “in full glory”, just like he does with Juno. Unfortunately for Semele, this means she will be incinerated by Jove’s glory and power. Juno has a taste for revenge, which she may define as “justice”. This theme of revenge continues throughout the rest of the books we have read and will most likely continue to be a theme until the end of the