The Virgin

November 7, 13

Crit. 2

“The Virgin”

What comes to mind when thinking about an apple? What about the colors, taste or even the texture of the apple? Not all apples have the same characteristics. The same is true for humans. Whether comparing apples to apples, or one human being to another human being, despite similar qualities there is always something slightly unique about each and every one of them. In many ways apples and humans can be compared, and Sappho beautifully illustrates this by her use of comparisons of apples to a child. As a result, through Sappho’s short fragment “The Virgin,” an understanding that all things possess unique characteristics that set them apart from others occurs.

Sappho starts off her short fragment with a simile “Like a” (Line 1), acknowledging the fact that something is about to be compared. Continuing on with the comparison she adds, “sweet apple” (Line 1). The word sweet alone sends the message that the apple has a bitter taste; bitter because even though bitter and sweet are the complete opposite, still underneath the bitter there lies a bit of sweetness. Bitter gives the idea that as an individual might have to do some digging to find the unique qualities that lie within someone, or something else they are after. The bitter taste is giving the apple its own unique taste or individuality right from the start.

Sappho finishes off the first line saying, “reddening on a high branch” (Line 1). With this image it makes one wonder how the apple got on a high branch in the first place. Who put the apple there? The mother of the apple did, and the mother would be the tree itself. The tree symbolizes the mother, and the apple symbolizes a child. The child is not just any child, but is a virg...

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...thers mistakes before “letting go” into maturity. Sappho strongly suggests through her beautiful images that nothing, or no one is ever forgotten. It may be the fact that in this case the apple or virgin may be out of the reach of the ones that are striving for them. But those objects may be placed in the places they are for a reason, the reason to guard them for the purpose of learning something valuable and important. No matter what or who the object is, all things possess their own unique characteristics in their own ways, and the only way that they are able to possess such unique things, is from learning from the mistakes of others, finding a role model, and becoming the individual they are destined to be.

Bibliography:

Sappho. “The Virgin.” Sweetbitter Love: Poems of Saphho. Trans. Willis Barnstone. Boston: Shambhala Publications Inc., 2006. 77.