preview

Gender Roles In Ovid's Metamorphoses Essay

Satisfactory Essays

Marcus Hollingsworth Professor Fannin Great Texts 2301 24 November 2014 Gender Roles and Transformation in Ovid’s Metamorphoses The fundamental quality of Ovid’s Metamorphoses seems to be a variableness of form. Characters are transformed from humans to animals, constellations, and plants, and sometimes back to humans. The author rarely offers much explanation as to the meaning of these seemingly random transfigurations. On another note, it is certainly easily arguable that the most shocking recurrences in the poem are the rapes and objectification of female characters. Portraying a heavily patriarchal society, the author typifies masculinity and femininity by repetitively associating them with stereotypical traits. Dominance, strength, …show more content…

The more dominant character is described with “masculine” qualities, while the subordinate character is described with “feminine” qualities. Characterization of the feminine or subdominant is achieved by describing a particular character in terms of the aesthetics of his or her physique, in keeping with the feminine quality of the appreciation of beauty. Conversely, characterization of the masculine or dominant character is often achieved by exaggerating the grittiness of his or her actions, traits, or circumstances. The classification of each character in a given story is usually either morphed or highlighted by a physical …show more content…

The scene opens with Actaeon, portrayed as a rugged hunter, ordering his hunting partners to cease work for the day after already enjoying much success. He is quite obviously being portrayed in a similar way as Cygnus and Achilles—in a masculine, intimidating way using greatly exaggerated language, especially as Actaeon says, “Our nets are already wet with blood” [3.159]. Simultaneously, Diana, a “high-skirted huntress,” is beginning to take a bath in a secluded pool in the same area Actaeon has been hunting. Diana is described in a fairly delicate, feminine way, despite her manly line of work. The poem describes a grotto with a pool, which she frequented, then reads, “Here the woodland goddess, weary from the hunt, would bathe her virgin limbs” [3.174-175]. After his work, Actaeon wandered through this uncertain territory and found himself overlooking the pool where Diana was nude and bathing. The delicate language describing the “goddess” is instantly abandoned for vengeful words as her anger is kindled against him. All of her weapons were out of reach, but “what she had, the water, she scooped up and flung into that male face, sprinkling his hair with vengeful drops and adding these words that foretold his doom: ‘Now you may tell how you saw me undressed, if you are able to tell!’” The enraged goddess then transforms Actaeon into an ill-fated deer, which subsequently becomes the prey of

Get Access