Roger Lancelyn Green’s retelling of a Greek myth, “Echo & Narcissus”, takes place in the mountains of Greece. Here live the Oreades, beautiful mountain nymphs. The most beautiful of the Oreades was a nymph named Echo. Then a man named Narcissus comes. He treats Echo derisively, causing a very terrible fate for her and he is left to suffer the same fate as she. One theme the story suggests is when one is contemptuous they not only cause pain for themselves, but also for those who they treat with contempt. In the short story, “Echo & Narcissus”, the greek god, Zeus, comes down from his palace on Mount Olympus to visit the Oreades, causing his wife, Hera, to be jealous. But the Echo would always intervene and distract Hera at the last second to save Zeus. But Hera realized what Echo was doing so she cursed her so she could only repeat what others said. So when a man named Narcissus shows up she is madly in love but can’t profess her feelings. Then when Narcissus scorns Echo, she dies of a broken heart. The goddess, Aphrodite, curses Narcissus for scorning Echo and her love for him so he can only love himself but shall die of a broken heart, just as Echo did. …show more content…
He does this because he verbally abuses Echo and causes her to die of a broken heart, making others, such as Aphrodite, fight back and he is treated how he treated others. In the text Aphrodite states, “‘[Narcissus] shall not go unpunished for this cruelty,’ said Aphrodite. ‘By scorning poor Echo..., he scorns love itself. And scorning love, he insults me. He is... eaten up with self-love… Well, he shall love himself... and yet shall die of unrequited love!’” This shows how contemptuousness hurts oneself due to the fact that Narcissus is so sardonic towards others and then because of his disappointing actions is facing consequences worse than those he forced on others such as
In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, a Greek meaning of the character Connie has been presented in two ways, by her being a nymph and her breathing. Some researchers believe Connie to be a nymph from Greek mythology because the definition of a nymph follows suit with the character Connie. “In Greek mythology, nymphs were inferior divinities frequently
...ader in “Siren Song” ultimately falls prey to the siren narrator. Despite many changes to the culture of the western world the morals and ideals of the ancient Greek poets and writers continue on even today just as prevalent as they did before. The influence and prestige of the ancient Greek world still soldiers on even in this rapidly changing modern world and will continue to do so.
A narcissist is one who believes “he or she is ‘special’ and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special” people. They exploit others for their own advantage, lack empathy, and are “preoccupied with fantasies” or ideals that can be unrealistic. They believe they are the “primary importance in everybody’s life”. (“Narcissistic Personality”) Henry James’ theme in his short story, “The Beast in the Jungle”, is about a man, who is so egotistical and self-absorbed that he misses what life has to offer him, in particular, love, because of the narcissistic behavior he is doomed to live a life of loneliness and misery. John Marcher, the protagonist of “The Beast in the Jungle”, is about a narcissistic upper-class man who believes his life is to be defined by some unforetold event. He focuses only on himself and as a result, he neglects everything and everyone in his life. Marcher meets May Bartram, a woman who knows his secret, and instead of pursuing a romantic relationship with her, or even a genuine friendship, he uses her for his own benefit. Henry James utilizes a variety of literary devices to convey this theme in his story, such as the title, symbolism, dialogue, and the use of a limited third-person narrative. Henry James leaves us our first clue to the theme in the title, “The Beast in the Jungle”. When one thinks of a beast, they typically imagine something big and ferocious; Marcher’s ego was just that.
Another woman who was also affected negtively by the will of the gods was the lovely Dido, queen and founder of Carthage. Upon the arrival of Aeneas and the beginning of their love affair, she is consumed by a love brought on by Cupid that was “...inward fire eating her away” and sh...
Narcissism is a disorder of high self-appraisal. Individuals who encounter narcissistic views, tend to not only hurt loved ones, but can also blindly guide themselves to tragedy. This personality disorder has a tendency to lead one to “chronic feelings of depression, and suicidality” (Whitbourne). Greed is the ultimate power of defeat and according to both stories created by Kate Chopin and Edgar Allan Poe, some of the characters result in just that. Armand in “Desiree’s Baby” and Fortunato in “Cask of Amontillado” are both portrayed as narcissistic characters in terms of lusting for pride and arrogance, to get what one wants for their own good nonetheless, hurts those around
The characters in Greek Mythology have multiple interpretations. Among these characters include the dangerous, yet gorgeous Sirens, bird-women who sit on a cliff singing bewitching songs that captivate the minds of innocent travelers and entice them to their deaths. In Homer’s The Odyssey and Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song,” both poets provide different representations of the Sirens. Homer portrays the Sirens as irresistible in order to establish men as heroes, whereas Atwood depicts them as unsightly and pathetic so she can prove men are foolish and arrogant using imagery, diction, and point of view.
These traits -choosing significant relationships where love can never be satisfactorily consumated, and the tendency to mirror significant others- were motivating features for choosing the term Echo Personality Disorder. In Greek mythology Echo was the lover of Narcissus. In this myth Echo, a forest nymph, falls in love with the egocentric youth Narcissus, and when he shows clear signs of rejecting her she persists in her attatchement, and will not be moved from her aim. She finally satisfies herself with the masochistic task of echoing back to him all that he says. This too is a central feature of EPD behaviour in relationships, where the individual will mirror, echo, and compliment another at the expense of their own self-worth and dignity. This echoing behaviour, though, does not exhaust the mythological potential of Echo, even if commentators on the myth narrow their descriptions to this single episode with Narcissus. Echo also has relations with Zeus, Hera, Pan, and Gaia, which have a different coloration to those she has with Narcissus, and has many friends in the form of other forest nymphs -"sisters" as we would call them today; attesting to the complexity we find within the Echo personality constellation.
The story of Christopher McCandless is that of an over-ambitious youth trying to find himself. Chris’ story, as told in detail in Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, ended tragically in his death within the Alaskan wilderness many months after running away from home with no contact to his family. In Krakauer’s work, he recounts interactions between Chris during his travels and multiple strangers. In this, one may conclude that Christopher McCandless is simply a reckless narcissist, who is selfish and privileged enough to think he can do and get away with whatever he wants. This is, in an emotional analysis, incorrect. Chris was subject to a severe Icarus complex, his ambitions being more than his body and life can handle. He refuses to contact his
As human beings we long for a connection with other human beings and hope that the connection is positive and helps us overcome our fears and struggles. A very first step to connect with one another is to overcome the anxiety about our self-shame and start daring greatly.
Again drawing from the scene where Penelope tells Odysseus of her trail a rhetorical question is presented to her. The question follows Penelope’s dream about a eagle (Odysseus) coming and killing all of her geese (the suitors). Beggar Odysseus is trying to make Penelope believe that the dream is a way of Odysseus showing her that he is coming to kill the suitors. He says “ Has not Odysseus himself shown you what is to come?”(XIX. 371). This rhetorical question is crucial to the plot of the epic poem because when Odysseus actually comes and kills the suitors Penelope cannot believe that it is him. Her ingenuity is once again revealed because she is not trustworthy of men anymore and to test any man who claims to be Odysseus she makes him tell her a secret only the real Odysseus would know. On the other hand the gods have the ability to tell and predict the future so they would have had no trouble identifying Odysseus. Once Penelope has revealed the trial to the suitors and one man Leodes has tried and failed, he asks the other suitors a question “ Resolute, are you still, to win Odysseus’ lady Penelope?”(XXI. 396). He has realized that this chase after a lady who is unwanting of them is futile. Throughout the whole book Penelope has denied the suitors any satisfaction because she has been loyal to Odysseus. Her loyalty is noteworthy because of the lack of loyalty elsewhere in the book. Agamemnon’s wife Klytemnestra killed him like “an ox felled at a trough” (XI. 198) . Agamemnon absolutely abhorred the entire women population and all to come, except for Penelope because he knew that she was faithful and “ too wise, and clear-eyed,” (XI. 199). Not to mention Zeus and many other gods were known to cheat on their significant others. After Odysseus defeated all of the suitors, Eurykleia goes to get Penelope, when Penelope hears the news she is in disbelief and is
Each time a story is told, elements of the original are often changed to suit new situations and current societies, or to offer a new perspective. Over the centuries, Ovid’s tale of "Echo and Narcissus" has been told many times to new audiences, and in the late nineteenth-century, it took the form of The Picture of Dorian Gray. "Echo and Narcissus" is the tale of a beautiful boy who fell in love with his reflection in a pond, and spurned others who loved him because he was so fixated upon himself. As a result of his extreme self-worship and consequent inability to love another, Narcissus perishes. Although several aspects of the original myth are retained in Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray is shocking and its characters commit acts that lead to ultimate decay and destruction. By changing elements of Ovid’s original tale, Wilde expands the myth of Echo and Narcissus to express the inevitable punishment and ruin that excessive desire brings.
This myth also parallels with the story of Narcissus and Echo. Both Narcissus and Adonis are troubled with sexuality, therefore illustrating Dorian’s relationship with Sibyl. Adonis avoids Venus and the myth suggests that such behaviour leads to death.
Atwood is playing with two levels of myth here: the Homeric myth of ‘faithful Penelope’ and cultural myths about women as either submissive or domestic (Howell 9). After marriage Penelope spends most of her time alone in boredom and Eurycelia, former nurse of Odysseus, often reminds her duties as wife by saying, “So you can have a nice big son for Odysseus. That’s your job” (63). Furthermore, Atwood recounts the vulnerability of alone woman in the male dominated world. To grab opportunity of being king, a number of suitors assemble at Ithaca, to marry Penelope, and she thinks, “They all were vultures when they spot the dead cow: one drops, then another, until finally every vulture for miles around is tearing up the carcass” (103). Moreover, Atwood argues about the partiality of sexual of freedom along with the vexed relationship between man and woman, as the former can do sex with any other woman such as Odysseus’s affairs with the goddess and whores, but the woman is restricted to marriage like Penelope. The foremost fatuous allegation makes on Penelope is about her faithfulness and loyalty for her husband Odysseus, and she defends herself from any sexual conduct in the chapter, “slanderous gossip”. The death of Amphinomus, the politest suitor among all, leaves the question of marital infidelity among the genders.
The gods in power, like Zeus, exhibit bias, dishonor, betrayal, deception, and many other humanly characteristics. One memorable scene is when Zeus and Poseidon are in conflict with each other over the Achaens versus the Trojans. Zeus controls the battle by “lifting the famous runner Achilles’ glory higher,” (Homer 13: 404). Zeus plays both sides in this scene, acting like a double agent which is dishonorable. Zeus’s bias is prevalent throughout the poem; specifically, he is “bent on wiping out the Argives, down to the last man,” (Homer 12: 81-82). Just like mortals such as Agamemnon and Achilles view each other with suspicion and intolerance, the gods experience identical emotions of wariness, anger, and irritation. This human-like behavior is not restricted to Zeus. Later in the text, Hera lies to Aphrodite to use her powers to manipulate her own husband Zeus. If one looks at Hera as a heavenly entity, her reaction may not make sense, but when it is viewed as a manifestation of human emotion, it become almost reasonable. Her scheming response to Zeus’s meddling with the war is spurred by her support for the Trojans. Hera’s manipulation and Aphrodite’s ego don’t stand alone as examples of this divine humanity. These instances suggest that the deities are being presented in this unique way to help explain behavior of the humans in The
Narcissus was the son of a river god and a nymph. It was prophesied at his birth that he would live a long life if “he shall himself not know” (Ovid, Book three, Line 347). Echo was a nymph who angered Juno by distracted her while Jupiter was with other nymphs. Juno cursed her so that, “when speaking ends,/ All she can do is double each last word,/ And echo back again the voice she’s heard” (Ovid, Book 3, Line 364-6). When Narcissus was sixteen, he went out hunting with a group of friends and was separated from them.