Definition of Beautiful in Beauty of a Man by Sappho

When trying to interpret the word “beautiful” lots of different things often come to mind. First off, some may see beauty in nature; some may see it in people. If talking about the beauty in a person, it could be interpreted in two different ways: beauty on the inside, such as their kindness or respect towards others. Then there is beauty on the outside, which focuses more on someone’s looks rather than personality. If interpreting the word ‘beautiful’ in nature, it is usually based distinctly on the looks or sound that nature has to offer. In Sappho’s poem “Beauty in a Man,” she plays with the definition of beautiful and makes the reader realize that there may be many other meanings of the word.

When Sappho says, “A man” (line 1), she is referring to no more than one man since it is not in the plural form. Sappho then goes on to say, “who is beautiful” (line 1). Readers may struggle to imagine a man being referred to as beautiful; often time’s reader’s minds refer to beautiful as something that is often described in a woman’s appearance. When referring to a man, handsome or good ...