Transformations In Ovid's Metamorphoses

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Transformations can exist in various forms; it is emotional, physical, or even spiritual, in either a partial or complete manner. In some cases, these partial transformations are personal qualities that may appear as deviant quality to the societal norm. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Ovid utilizes myths to construct a realm where he depicts an overarching theme of transformation through humans and nature.
In Book I, Ovid creates a theme of transformation that is told as a myth of Apollo and Daphne. The myth is led by the head of the romance department, Venus, who is closely followed by her troublesome son, Cupid. The Olympian god Apollo shows off to Cupid of his seemingly large achievement of the defeating of the python. Cupid sizes Apollo up by …show more content…

When meeting Daphne, as expected, Apollo is consumed and in the midst of love enchanted by Cupid’s arrow. Before undergoing this transformation, Apollo would not have the obsession that he has now for Daphne. Quite frankly, Apollo would probably not have even cared about her because he did not know her prior to them both being shot by Cupid’s mischievous arrows. Ovid utilizes Apollo’s intense desire to love Daphne as the chase of romance. He compares this love to that of the flame in a brush because the transformation Apollo goes through is unexpectedly quick. The imagery of a flame, “Phoebus is changed then into flames. / That’s how his whole chest burns, and by hoping, / he feeds a love that is in vain” (723-725), scattering through the brush depicts a powerful reaction, mainly through Cupid’s love arrows. Apollo is flame is fueled by a hope to overcome the pointlessness of his desire to love her. He now recognizes that Daphne is beautiful in every aspect. Disappointed by only being able to see Daphne, Apollo yearned for more. His actions become more like a cat and mouse chase. When Apollo decides to crank up the heat in the chase, Daphne’s motivation to run from him simultaneously grows. Ovid conveys Daphne’s passion to remain unwanted, which allows her to stay narrowly out of Apollo’s

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