My tongue darted out to wet my chapped lips as I struggled to pay attention to the lecture taking place in front of me. Management was my passion, but my passion was dampened after the seemingly endless hours of analyzing businesses that I couldn't be bothered to care about. Market Entry Strategy was supposed to be an easy four credit class, but resisting the urge to reach inside my bag to retrieve the currently buzzing phone was about as easy as finding a needle in a haystack. Fighting against the death grip my heart had on my brain, I continued to take notes. Later, I promised myself, later I would have all of the time in the world. After industry evolution, optimal growth, and competitive interaction methods were my second nature, I would …show more content…
As Orpheus sat with his clammy hand intertwined, he imagined his hand as her last tie to the mortal world. Just Yesterday, they had discussed her trip to see him in such detail, and every moment before she headed home to Greece for New Year’s would be spent together. She would be backstage at his concerts and in his bed at night. He rubbed the sleepiness away from his eyes, and stole a glance at Eurydice's body. Burn marks marred the skin that was once a sun kissed tan, now burning red. Her chest was covered in dark purple bruises from her seatbelt. Stitches littered her purple tinted skin, sewing her back together like she was a rag doll. Tears prickling his eyes, he let go of the lifeless hand, and didn't turn back, not when loud beeping could be heard, or when doctors ran in the opposite direction of him barking directions to anyone that would …show more content…
She walked over to Orpheus's room to see him sprawled out on the couch, a note grasped in his hand. Bending down to read it, quietly whispering she read in the messy script of a doctor, “To Orpheus, before I get taken to surgery, I am making the doctor write this note. If I don't make it out, I want you to know I love you. Goodbye, Eurydice." A sense of calm rushed through the mother, before nudging Orpheus to wake him up. When the pale body didn't stir, Demeter sighed and resolved to bring the lanky man to bed. When she heaved the body to lay it in Orpheus's bed, she heard something clatter to the floor. Carefully laying down the Orpheus on the end of the couch, she picked up a small orange bottle, reading the label; Maenads sleeping pills, 250mg tablets. There were at least fifty capsules in the container. Grasping the cold neck a sense of trepidation settled into woman. Demeter felt for a pulse and sunk down on her heels when she realized what had
For example, Corrigan said, “Sometimes he claimed the scar along his thigh indicated he was actually the biblical figure of Jacob. Jacob, the brother of Esau? Jacob, who wrestled God’s angel and lived” (80). Corrigan, in this excerpt from the novel, alluded to the bible story in Genesis. One who knows the story of Jacob and Esau would be able to make connections between those from that story and the characters in the book. This biblical allusion caused some readers to be able to make deeper connections in the novel but yet does not hinder the understanding of someone who does not recognize the reference. Corrigan also wrote, “You so easily remember the times I was Eurydice, when the ward’s locked door slid closed between us. Do not forget I also have been Orpheus, on my knees in the boat, asking all the devils for your face in the trees” (100). This allusion to Greek mythology aided the reader in understanding one of Corrigan’s central themes in her novel. In the story Orpheus was a poet who was able to entrance enemies with his singing and lyre playing. After his wife, Eurydice, was killed, he traveled to the underworld to rescue her. Corrigan writes that she and Danny took turns being both Eurydice and Orpheus in that one was doing the rescuing and one was being rescued. They were there for each other through their troubles and
In the excerpt from A Few Notes For Orpheus, the narrator experiences an distant relationship with his father due to his father’s lack of attention and care for him in the past. Because of his father’s lack of understanding of his own son, the narrator had not visited his father in two years and as a result, had “forgotten what he looked like.” This infers that the narrator has not forgotten his past conflict with his father, causing him to be unwilling to reconcile with his father. As a result of his lack of communication and association with his father, this further deteriorates their relationship, emphasizing the increasing isolation between his father and him. Upon visiting his father with his daughter Cathy, the narrator attempts to have a quiet, peaceful conversation with his father. However, his efforts are instantly downgraded by his father upon as his father spoke in an abrupt, callous manner with him while taking Cathy and the both “walked away, him holding her hand and talking.” This illustrates the extreme severity of the lack of closeness
If you met a man named Orpheus who had a girlfriend, would you assume her name was Eurydice? Many people would, because the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is from “many, many thousand years ago” and is still passed on today, verbally and through works of literature. In his 1959 film Black Orpheus, Marcel Camus interprets this well-known myth, making changes to the story to make it more dramatic and interesting. Black Orpheus is substantially different from the original myth because Orpheus has a girlfriend before meeting Eurydice, Hermes plays a different role, Orpheus kills Eurydice, Orpheus cannot bring Eurydice back from the underworld, and Orpheus’ death is different.
In the scene following Eurydice’s death, Orpheus does not believe that she is dead. He goes to the hospital in hopes of finding his love, Eurydice. However, once he reaches the hospital, he inquires many constraints. The doctors and nurses will only let him go so far in the hospital. In an attempt to avoid the doctors, he runs around frantically, looking for a way to elude the doctors. In my opinion, this is Orpheus decent to Phlegethon,...
Throughout history death has been a fascination to many authors, often personified as cruel, rigid, and ugly. In Cocteau’s Orpheus, however, death (or perhaps merely a face of death), is personified through a beautiful and strong, young woman. While this façade fools Cocteau’s characters, he uses many clues to indicate the princess’s role such as appearance, dialogue, and actions.
The characters in the movie, Black Orpheus, are significantly altered from the Greek myth. In the myth, Orpheus and Eurydice are together from the beginning and are completely in love. Everyone is happy for their love and the only thing that stands in their way is death. In the movie, however, this is notably changed. Orpheus begins as a streetcar conductor that was engaged to Mira, giving the idea that Orpheus was in love with another woman. We quickly see that this is not the case as Orpheus is always very curt and rude with his fiancée. They are slated to get married, but there is an eerie feeling in the air that something is about to go wrong.
The poet never mentions the name Orpheus directly within the poem; rather, she employs a third-person point of view and refers to the subject of the work as he: “Whether he will go on singing / or not, knowing what he knows / of the horror of this world.” (1-3). A reader not previously familiar with mythology who may overlook the title will find difficulty deciphering this literary piece in connection to Orpheus. However, by paying attention to the title, one can relate literally every line to the mythological figure.. In the actual myth, Orpheus is an extraordinary singer whose voice is unsurpassed by any mortal or god.
As the play begins, the dialogue between Orpheus and Eurydice reveals that the two are definitely very affectionate toward each other. As Orpheus explains his song he has written for Eurydice, he tells her, “your hair will be my orchestra and – I love you.” It is apparent that the two are very fond of one another and wish to spend every moment in each other's arms. However, their love is not perfect; Orpheus appears to value his music more than his lover. When asked what he is thinking about, Orpheus simply replies “music.” He is constantly thinking of music, hearing music, writing music. He once tells Eurydice he is thinking of her, but shortly after admits, “and music.” Eurydice is not oblivious to Orpheus's love for music, and this sometimes upsets her. The first scene shows how different the two characters really are; Orpheus loves music while Eurydice enjoys reading books. However, they are still madly in love with one another. The opening scenes of the play set a beautiful stage for an imminent tragedy.
The personification of Death is done by means of a princess of the Underworld in Jean Cocteau’s Orpheus. This Princess is very powerful, yet surprisingly vulnerable. For no one is allowed to love in the Underworld, the Princess falls in love with a famous poet named Orpheus and goes to drastic measures to be with him. But in the end she cannot be with her love, and she realizes this and does what is forbidden in the Underworld and defies time and sends back her love to whom he loved before her. Death in Cocteau’s Orpheus is not only powerful and vulnerable, but she also changes throughout the course of the movie. Three elements support that the Princess changes throughout the course of the film and what brings about this change. These elements are dialogue, clothing and appearance, and actions.
In the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, the two get married but Eurydice quickly perishes. Overcome with grief Orpheus convinces Hades to let him bring back Eurydice to the world of the living. He agrees but on one condition; Eurydice has to walk behind Orpheus and he cannot look back to see if she's following. Orpheus agrees, but when the couple are just about to leave Erebus, Orpheus looks back to see his lover. With a final "Farewell" Eurydice
Orpheus cares about Eurydice, his wife, and travels to Hades, god of the underworld, to express his desire to bring her back, despite the fact it had never been done before. “Give me back my wife again,” Orpheus demands. “For [he] will not leave without her-not for all the torments that can be devised.” (Evslin 82). Because of his resolution and willingness to endure, Orpheus is able to convince Hades of a deal to get Eurydice back. A benevolent dance partner such as Orpheus would make a tremendous teammate, since, for success, dancers must trust and rely on one another in dance moves like lifts. However, since Odysseus is inconsiderate, he would steal the spotlight since he is a discourteous partner. Odysseus refuses to follow his men’s ideas and instead wants to see the cave man, which “[is] no pretty sight, it [turns] out, for [his] friends” (Homer 867). Odysseus, knowing his men could be put in danger, makes a vacuous decision revealing he does not care about his men. Having a teammate like Odysseus, who is obstinate and inconsiderate would be atrocious, contrary to Orpheus, who is
It is widely known that the Athenians highly valued their warrior class, and they saw the warriors as a ring of the higher circle of the society. The Athenians were very proud of Athena and its traditions, as well. Athenian’s thought that Athena was the best, none could be better. The funeral oration was aimed to respect the fallen as well as to keep up the national pride and its passion to protect their nation. The speech was a eulogy which focused on the eminence of Athens and its predecessors. Usually a son was chosen to give the eulogy. The law required the speech to have several essential components. The speech had to concerning the lives of the deceased. At his eulogy’s end, Pericles spoke in regard to the soldiers. The speech talked about the life that the departed lived and the achievements which they gained. Pericles wanted the citizens to recall the soldiers but to forget about the tragedy that had occurred. He wanted the departed’s lives to be remembered, but not their demise. The speech helped the Athenians appreciate what their ancestors had died for and how they shou...
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Orpheus (Greek Mythology)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
The original depiction of the loving relationship between Orpheus and Eurydice seems unclear. Throughout the myths the only information we receive about their relationship is that they are keen lovers which leads to their marriage. This general lack of knowledge, along with the mystery of Eurydice gives us a gloomy view of what their relationship was actually like. The only
...Orpheus as an ideal conglomerate everyman in a difficult to understand environment, watching something he cared about disappear for no apparent reason aside from randomness. In its most basic form, this story boils down to ‘in life bad stuff sometimes happens’, something that I tried to capture in my portrayal.