Echo and Narcissus Essays

  • Women In The Myth Of Echo And Narcissus

    1158 Words  | 3 Pages

    often portrayed one of two ways, either as the beautiful young damsel or the wicked woman behind the downfall of the damsel. In both the works, “The Myth of Echo and Narcissus” by Edith Hamilton and “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates, the main characters are very narcissistic, self absorbed characters. Narcissus and Connie’s stories are similar, yet the reception of these seemingly alike stories are incredibly different. Through various demonstrations of each story disrupting

  • Authority And Identity In Ovid's Metamorphoses

    1462 Words  | 3 Pages

    Narcissus is so preoccupied with his own identity (or perhaps more specifically, his appearance) that he completely loses sight of others’ needs due to his self-absorption. Throughout the myth, Narcissus repeatedly spurns the advances of potential suitors. He is pathologically drawn to his own appearance or anything that resembles and imitates his own personality. The only voice that he finds pleasure in is Echo’s echo of his own. The first truly passionate reaction Narcissus expresses

  • John William Waterhouse Echo Narcissus

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    simple reason that it included a male figure. The figure is of course Narcissus, fated to meet his end through his own beautiful reflection in a pond. The female is Echo, a nymph and tertiary character in the story who like many others fell in love with the beautiful boy—the only witness to Narcissus fulfilling the prophecy. Despite being fairly insignificant in the original story, Waterhouse’s emphasis—as expected—is on her. Narcissus lays on his stomach, gazing at himself; red cloth drapes around his

  • Exploring Narcissus and Echo: Variations of a Greek Myth

    531 Words  | 2 Pages

    called Narcissus and Echo. Today I will explore the two popular variations of said myth explaining the differences and similarities. I hope you enjoy learning about this myth as much as I did. These versions, as different as they may be are also very similar. In the written and indexed version of Narcissus and Echo there is a nymph by the name of echo, she angers a queen and is cursed to only be able to repeat other’s last words. Echo then finds a handsome young man by the name of Narcissus in the

  • Comparing the Myth in Ovid’s Echo and Narcissus and Wilde’s Dorian Gray

    3138 Words  | 7 Pages

    Contemporary Ancient Myth in Ovid’s Echo and Narcissus and Wilde’s Dorian Gray 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

  • William Butler Yeats poem, Leda and the Swan and Fred Chappel’s Narcissus and Echo

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Butler Yeats poem, Leda and the Swan and Fred Chappel’s Narcissus and Echo Poets use many different stylistic devices to capture the attention of the reader. After all, who wants to read a boring poem? Many times, it is the opening line that acts as the "hook." What better way to capture someone's attention than to incite emotion with the first word. Some poets use form to their advantage. Perhaps by writing the words out in different shapes, they will create a broader readership. Some

  • Narcissism

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    similar manner, John William Waterhouse depicts the aptly-named Narcissus as obsessed with his reflection in his painting Echo and Narcissus. These two characters may come from different places and different eras, but their mental and emotional similarities are striking. Captivated with the idea of being young forever, Dorian Gray falls in love with himself, leaving the woman who loves him behind just as Narcissus did to Echo. Just as Narcissus stole Echo’s heart and broke it, Dorian Gray ruins Sybil Vane’s

  • Metaphors In Ovid's Metamorphoses

    638 Words  | 2 Pages

    Narcissus and Echo: Metaphors in Metamorphoses In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, readers are given stories about transformations and many are about unrequited love. One such tale is of Narcissus and Echo, and within this story is a metaphor encapsulating the gist of the entire tale. “… But while he tries/to quench one thirst, he feels another rise:…” (ln 32-33 93). This metaphor explains the situation in which Narcissus meets his downfall, gives examples of his character traits, and proves a universal

  • Echo Personality Disorder

    1738 Words  | 4 Pages

    Echo Personality Disorder The term Echo Personality Disorder was coined by British Psychosynthesis practitioner Patrick Hurst, as a replacement term for 'Inverted Narcissism' and 'Covert Narcissism' which later terms place unwarranted emphasis on narcissistic qualities of the personality, which in many of these individuals may not be a feature at all. EPD is a highly differentiated form of Dependent Personality Disorder, marked by behaviours of compliance and a need to 'mirror' significant

  • Narcissus In Greek Mythology

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Greek mythology, Narcissus was the son of the nymph Liriope and the water god Cephissus. He was always looked upon for his unimaginable beauty. The blind seer Tiresias told his mother, Liriope, that he would live a long and healthy life! Of course, with one catch. He could never recognize himself. Because of his beauty many people fell in love with him. But Narcissus would never love anyone else back. He would just entertain them and then drive them off. In his eyes, nobody was worthy of him.

  • Foreshadowing and Duality in Ovid’s take on Spurned Love: The Vengeance For Vanity

    1668 Words  | 4 Pages

    by the themes of love and eroticism and therefore, he used it frequently in his poetry. Therefore, in much of the Metamorphoses, he explores themes of love lost, love betrayed and love rejected as popular themes. Unsurprisingly, the story of Echo and Narcissus presents a tale of love that is spurned. The poem is part of a collection of poem published in his epic, titled Metamorphoses. Many have already written on morality as a theme, I will however look at his use of literary devices like, his use

  • Dorian Gray Greek Mythology

    987 Words  | 2 Pages

    relationship that can been seen to be influenced by the myths of Actaeon and Artemis, Narcissus and Echo, and Adonis and Venus. The myth that best connects the relationship between Dorian and Sibyl is that of Actaeon and Artemis. Actaeon was a hunter who saw the goddess Artemis bathing. As punishment for looking upon the nude goddess, Actaeon

  • Analysis Of Icarus And Narcissus

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    But Narcissus didn 't love anyone but himself. Echo committed treachery against Juno and as a result of this Juno took away Echo’s voice. The only exception was that if she was spoken to she could talk back. Echo went to see Narcissus but when he came into the woods he told her to get away because he doesn’t want to be with her. The Gods were angry and told Narcissus love is something he could never have Echo and Narcissus cried and Narcissus’ body disappeared and Echo went and cried with

  • Exploring The Theme Of Foolishness In Homer's Odyssey

    1105 Words  | 3 Pages

    narcissistic man is what he is. A young girl named Echo had been a fool and fell in love with him. Though her voice was taken away, she was not allowed to speak unless someone spoke before, and even then she could only repeat what they said in an echo. During a hike one day, Narcissus encounters Echo, as she confesses her love for him, he insults her. “Never will I let you kiss me” or “I would die before I would have you touch me.” Due to these words, Echo begs to be killed. Aphrodite, the goddess of love

  • Greek Myths In Today's Society

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    developing words such as “narcissistic” and “echo” from the story of Narcissus and Echo. “Narcissistic" deriving from Narcissus being self loathing and in love with his appearance so much causing him to never have the ability to look away from himself and “echo” coming also from the curse Hera possessed upon her by making the only words she can say the last words she had most recently heard. This is also why it is rumored that if you call into a cave loud enough, Echo may just return your call. New vocabulary

  • Unrequited Love In Ovid's Metamorphoses

    1265 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

  • Narcissus: The Most Well-Known Greek Myth

    539 Words  | 2 Pages

    The myth of Narcissus is one of the most well-known Greek Myths. It is unique because it strongly suggests the idea of the fundamental solitude of the human being. We can find two versions of this myth: the first is the Greek version as narrated by Conon the Greek mythographer: “"Ameinias was a very determined but fragile youth. When he was cruelly spurned by Narkissos (Narcissus), he took his sword and killed himself by the door, calling on the goddess Nemesis to avenge him. As a result when Narkissos

  • Narcissus Persephone: The Representation Of Women In Historic Literature

    1596 Words  | 4 Pages

    How are females represented in historic literature compared to males? Echo and Narcissus revolves around the story of how Echo’s life is ruined by a curse, leaving her only able to say the last word that comes out of somebody else’s mouth. Furthermore, it shows the struggle when she falls in love and how she is essentially disabled. Whereas, Persephone is about how the beautiful daughter of the Greek goddess Demeter, is manipulated and captured by Hades. Myths portray women as weak, objects of beauty

  • Analysis Of Persephone Falling By Rita Dove

    577 Words  | 2 Pages

    the “narcissus among the ordinary beautiful flowers,” the speaker depicts the singly unique plant in the area, specifically denoting the narcissus plant species. However, while narcissus directly refers to the narcissus flower, it also alludes to the myth of Narcissus from Greek mythology, who existed obsessed with himself to the point of committing suicide. In referencing Narcissus early in the poem, the work implies the eventual fate of Persephone as one of self-destruction, as Narcissus

  • myths

    559 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hestia, for the safety of house and family. Athena, for wisdom and courage, Demeter for an abundant harvest and Zeus for Justice and military might. Myths, also explore all aspects of life. Love can be painful as in the night of Echo and Narcissus, both Echo and Narcissus remain solitary tragic figures, cursed with loneliness and tormented by a love they can never have. Myths can serve to justify or validate social standing or political power in the world. The Romans for example used mythology to