Sexuality In Narcissus And Aesop's Fables

The exquisite society to emerge will be governed by an elite comprised of gay poets. One of the major requirements for a position of power in the new society of homoeroticism will be indulgence in the Greek passion. Any man contaminated with heterosexual lust will be automatically barred from a position of influence. All males who insist on remaining

How much control do women have over their emotions in the Aeneid? In his poem, Virgil frequently shows women in situations where irrational thoughts lead to harmful choices. Specifically, Virgil presents women as being easily influenced by their emotions. Consequently, these characters make decisions that harm both themselves and those around them. Throughout Aeneas’s journey, divinities such as Juno and Venus are seen taking advantage of the emotions of different women, influencing these characters to act in ways that ignore important priorities. Not only does Virgil present women as completely vulnerable to their emotions, but he also shows the problems that arise when these women engage in decisions where they put their own feelings

Lust is defined as an intense longing or a sexual desire. It is a common theme in literature; particularly in classic Greek literature. The reason it is so prevalent in literature is that is prevalent in our daily lives. Everyone lusts after something or someone. It is an interesting topic to examine closely, and classic literature is an excellent medium for such an investigation. Two works I have studied, in which lust is a theme, are an epic, Homer's The Odyssey, and a play, Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. In both The Odyssey and Lysistrata, lust is a theme that plays a major role in the course of the story, making the stories similar, but very different.

The mirror itself challenges the link between representation and truth‹the images January sees are reconstructions/reflections, rather than the women themselves. Furthermore, the mirror is not even real. It is the poet's metaphor, itself another kind of reconstruction, and so the reader becomes twice removed from these women who are being represented. January bases his non-visual assessment of these women not on direct interaction but on hearsay; it is their reputation among the people that determines what he thinks of their characters (ll. 1591-2). The mirror becomes a metaphorical space in which January can appraise

Poem Evaluation: “what the mirror said” The poem “what the mirror said”, written by Lucille Clifton, acts as an inspiring, motivational poem for women. While trying to convince the woman looking into the mirror that she is important, trying to help her capture her inner beauty, and helping the subject realize her worth in the world as an individual, the poet builds a theme of personal perception. The notions of beauty, worth and uniqueness, and complexity in “what the mirror said”, are emphasized through metaphors, symbolism, repetition, and spacious stanzas. There are always multiple perceptions on what poetry is trying to portray, which is part of the fun of poetry analysis.

Scholars have attempted to come up with an answer which explains Eve’s Narcissus-like tendencies. Some scholars feel that Eve’s narcissism is an “innocent stage of human development” since she “quickly outgrows it.” (McColley 63). One scholar feels that “There is a certain beauty in Eve’s narcissism” because it is “the linking of above and below.” (Norford 10, 14). Others, like Jonathan Collett, gather the idea that Eve’s scene at the pool is simply a biblical form of the Narcissus myth.

Hesiod leaves no doubt that the existence of women is on balance a terrible thing for men. Zeus ordered Hephaistos to create women as a punishment for his having been decieved.. Women were to be a poisoned gift for men, which "all shall take to their hearts with delight, an evil to love and embrace" (W&D, 57-59). In the Theogony women are called "a great plague" because they are "ill-suited to Poverty’s curse, but suited to Plenty" (592-93), among other flaws. While Hesiod offers some well-turned phrases in praise of womens’ good qualities, it is unmistakable that these positive attributes are all put there by Zeus for the sole purpose of making woman an "inescapable

In looking at this portrayal of Agathon, it also brings into question Aristophanes’ view of homoeroticism. In looking purely at Women at the Thesmophoria, Aristophanes seems to be pushing the commonly held negative notions of passive homoeroticism. In his choice to ridicule Agathon by means of his effeminate nature, is Aristophanes a believer of these commonly held notions of homoeroticism, is he

Each person reacts differently to a mirror. Some prefer to primp and tidy their face while others take a quick glance and carry on. However, there are others who continuously stare into the eyes of their alternate-self. These people wonder, “What do I see?” They are the kind of people who desperately seek answers for their existence, and will not rest until their questions are resolved. The alternate-self is the true being. Although it remains as a reflection of the physical body it is also who we see on the inside. What one sees in his or her reflection equals the truth of their nature. For some we see an innate good, but for others it is the innate evil and horror of humanity. Victor Frankenstein may claim to be such a

The repeated emphasis on honor, wisdom, and virtue is a recurring theme throughout greek homosexual relationships. The archetypes of the two male partners: the younger lover known as the ‘beloved’ (eromenos) and an older lover (erastes). Cantarella asserts that “love relationships, were also, in fact, intellectual ones that in some ways saw the beloved as the disciple and the lover as the master of life, ethics and civic education” (Cantarella, 8). It will come as no surprise that such relationships were especially prevalent among the upper class and were considered a denotation of wealth and station.

When a loved one dies, one usually displaces his/her love on an object that reminds him/her of the beloved in order to allay anxiety in the face of sexual impulses. In the text, the narrator is reminded of his lover by the large mirror when he states, “I felt

The Greek myth that tells the morale tale of narcissism follows Narcissus, a hunter who was known for his beauty, as he earns the affection of many admirers but is unable to love one more than he loves himself. One of his rejected lovers prayed to Nemesis, the goddess of vengeance, to punish Narcissus for his self-absorbed nature. Narcissus came across his reflection in a pond and fell in love with himself, and was cursed to starve to death as he watched his reflection (Greek mythology). Like the Greek character Narcissus, people who are narcissistic possess an inflated self-image and crave attention and admiration to keep their self-esteem high. The self-esteem of narcissists is constantly under great pressure, making it important for

When one looks in the mirror, they see many things about themselves; the color of their eyes, the way their pupils dilate when exposed to varying intensities of light, the curve of their mouth contrasting against the flatness of the surrounding walls. They look into the mirror and form a judgement about themselves, their appearance, their behaviors, who they are and what they are to become. But the question no one seems to ask themselves when they look in the mirror is what exactly makes that person they see human? And while this may not be a question that most people ask about themselves on a personal level, it is a topic that is widely discussed alongside Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. Many debates have surfaced discussing if

mirror. Who are almost getting in the way so to speak of its life and

It’s no secret the ancient Greeks were fans of sex. From large scale orgy parties to everyday polygamy, ancient Greek culture heavily revolved around sex and the pleasures of the body. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer recounts the famed journey home of the Greek hero Odysseus, from the Fall of Troy to his home on the Isle of Ithaca to be reunited with his wife Penelope. Along the way, however, Odysseus finds trouble everywhere he looks, especially when it comes to sex. Throughout his ten year journey home, sex acts as an instrument of power, self-preservation and intimacy.