Portrayals of Gender in The Metamorphoses
Character Page
Achelous
- Perpetrator:
- I, among the rest who loved this
maiden
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Achilles
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Actaeon
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Alcithoe
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Arachne
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Athena
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Caeneus
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object:
- the god of ocean saw and ravished her. And
in the joy of that love
Circe
- Perpetrator:
- “to court one who is willing, one who
wants your love, and feels a like desire. You did deserve to win her love,
yes, to be wooed yourself. In fact you might be. If you give some hope, you have my
word, you shall indeed
be wooed. That you may have no doubt, and so retain all confidence in
your attraction's power— behold! I am a goddess, and I am the daughter
also, of the radiant Sun! And I who am so potent with my charms, and I
who am so potent with my herbs, wish only to be yours. Despise
her who despises you, and her who is attached by one act offer each her
just reward
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Cyclops
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Cygnus
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Diana
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Echo
- Perpetrator:
- she loved him and she followed him, with soft
and stealthy tread.—The more she followed him the hotter did she burn, as when the
flame flares upward from the sulphur on the torch.
- Oh, how she longed to make her passion known! To
plead in soft entreaty! to implore his love!
- Never sound seemed sweeter to the Nymph, and
from the woods she hastens in accordance with her words, and strives to wind
her arms around his neck.
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Glaucus
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object:
- “to court one who is willing, one who
wants your love, and feels a like desire. You did deserve to win her love,
yes, to be wooed yourself. In fact you might be. If you give some hope, you have my
word, you shall indeed
be wooed. That you may have no doubt, and so retain all confidence in
your attraction's power— behold! I am a goddess, and I am the daughter
also, of the radiant Sun! And I who am so potent with my charms, and I
who am so potent with my herbs, wish only to be yours. Despise
her who despises you, and her who is attached by one act offer each her
just reward
Hecate
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Hermaphroditus
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object:
- made havoc as her greedy eyes
beheld.
- languid for his caressing, crazed,
distract, her passion difficult is held in check
Ianthe
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object:
- is in love without one hope of passion's ecstasy,
the thought of which only increased her flame; and she a girl is burnt with
passion for another girl!
Iphis
- Perpetrator:
- is in love without one hope of passion's ecstasy,
the thought of which only increased her flame; and she a girl is burnt with
passion for another girl!
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Isis
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Itys
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Jason
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object:
- loved at sight with a consuming flame
- Although she struggled to suppress her love, unable
to restrain herself
- “In vain I've
striven to subdue my heart: some god it must be, which I cannot tell, is
working to destroy my hapless life; or else it is the burning flame of
love that in me rages. If it is not love, why do the mandates of my father
seem too harsh? They surely are too harsh. Why do I fear that he may
perish whom I have seen only once? What is the secret cause that I am
agitated by such fears?— It is no other than the god of
Love.
- but some deluding power is holding me helpless
against my will. Desire persuades me one way, but my reason still
persuades another way. I see a better course and I approve, but follow its
defeat.
- in his dear embrace forget my fears— or if for anything I suffer
dread, it will be only for the one I love.
- dying flames leaped up again. Her cheeks grew red, then all her
face went pale again; as a small spark when hid beneath the ashes, if fed by a
breath of wind grows and regains its strength, as it is fanned to life; so now her
love that had been smoldering, and which you would have thought was almost
dead, when she had see again his manly youth, blazed up once
more.
- her modesty
restrained her heart, eagerly longed to fold him in her arms, but careful of
her good name, held aloof,— rejoicing in deep, silent love; and she
acknowledged to the Gods her mighty gift of incantations.
Ligdus
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Lucifer
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Medea
- Perpetrator:
- loved at sight with a consuming flame
- Although she struggled to suppress her love, unable
to restrain herself
- “In vain I've
striven to subdue my heart: some god it must be, which I cannot tell, is
working to destroy my hapless life; or else it is the burning flame of
love that in me rages. If it is not love, why do the mandates of my father
seem too harsh? They surely are too harsh. Why do I fear that he may
perish whom I have seen only once? What is the secret cause that I am
agitated by such fears?— It is no other than the god of
Love.
- but some deluding power is holding me helpless
against my will. Desire persuades me one way, but my reason still
persuades another way. I see a better course and I approve, but follow its
defeat.
- in his dear embrace forget my fears— or if for anything I suffer
dread, it will be only for the one I love.
- dying flames leaped up again. Her cheeks grew red, then all her
face went pale again; as a small spark when hid beneath the ashes, if fed by a
breath of wind grows and regains its strength, as it is fanned to life; so now her
love that had been smoldering, and which you would have thought was almost
dead, when she had see again his manly youth, blazed up once
more.
- her modesty
restrained her heart, eagerly longed to fold him in her arms, but careful of
her good name, held aloof,— rejoicing in deep, silent love; and she
acknowledged to the Gods her mighty gift of incantations.
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Minerva
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Minos
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object:
- And
when he wore his helmet, crested with gay plumes, she deemed it glorious; when
he held his shield shining with gold, no other seemed so grand; and when he
poised to hurl the tough spear home, she praised his skill and strength; and when
he bent his curving bow with arrow on the cord, she pictured him as
Phoebus taking aim,— but when, arrayed in purple, and upon
the back of his white war horse, proudly decked with richly broidered housings, he
reined in the nervous steed, and took his helmet off, showing his fearless
features, then the maid, daughter of Nisus, could control herself
no longer; and a frenzy seized her mind.
- She had a wild desire to open to the
enemy the heavy brass-bound gates, or anything that Minos could desire.
- why should he by force instead of my
consuming love, prevail to open the strong gates?
- Oh, let her love prevail to open for his army the
great gates. Only the thought of it, has filled her soul;
- “Another woman
crazed with passionate desires, which now inflame me, would not hesitate,
but with a fierce abandon would destroy whatever checked her passion. Who is
there with love to equal mine? I dare to go through flames and swords; but
swords and flames are not now needed, for I only need my royal father's
lock of purple hair. More precious than fine gold, it has a power to give
my heart all that it may desire.”
- And as she spoke she held out in
her guilty hand the prize, and begged him to accept it with her
love.
Minyas
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Narcissus
- Perpetrator:
- While he is drinking he beholds himself
reflected in the mirrored pool—and loves; loves an imagined body which
contains no substance, for he deems the mirrored shade a thing of life to
love. He cannot move, for so he marvels at himself, and lies with countenance
unchanged, as if indeed a statue carved of Parian marble. Long, supine upon
the bank, his gaze is fixed on his own eyes, twin stars; his fingers shaped as
Bacchus might desire, his flowing hair as glorious as Apollo's, and
his cheeks youthful and smooth; his ivory neck, his mouth dreaming in
sweetness, his complexion fair and blushing as the rose in snow-drift white.
All that is lovely in himself he loves, and in his witless way he wants
himself:— he who approves is equally approved; he seeks, is sought, he burns
and he is burnt.
- Object:
- And many a youth, and many a damsel
sought to gain his love; but such his mood and spirit and his pride, none
gained his favour.
- she loved him and she followed him, with soft
and stealthy tread.—The more she followed him the hotter did she burn, as when the
flame flares upward from the sulphur on the torch.
- Oh, how she longed to make her passion known! To
plead in soft entreaty! to implore his love!
- Never sound seemed sweeter to the Nymph, and
from the woods she hastens in accordance with her words, and strives to wind
her arms around his neck.
- While he is drinking he beholds himself
reflected in the mirrored pool—and loves; loves an imagined body which
contains no substance, for he deems the mirrored shade a thing of life to
love. He cannot move, for so he marvels at himself, and lies with countenance
unchanged, as if indeed a statue carved of Parian marble. Long, supine upon
the bank, his gaze is fixed on his own eyes, twin stars; his fingers shaped as
Bacchus might desire, his flowing hair as glorious as Apollo's, and
his cheeks youthful and smooth; his ivory neck, his mouth dreaming in
sweetness, his complexion fair and blushing as the rose in snow-drift white.
All that is lovely in himself he loves, and in his witless way he wants
himself:— he who approves is equally approved; he seeks, is sought, he burns
and he is burnt.
Nemesis
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Neptune
- Perpetrator:
- the god of ocean saw and ravished her. And
in the joy of that love
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Nestor
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Nisus
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Philomela
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object:
- when
he saw the beautiful and blushing
virgin, was consumed with love
- Her modest beauty was a worthy cause of worthy
love; but by his heritage, derived from a debasing clime,
his love was base; and fires unholy burned within from his own lawless
nature, just as fierce as are the habits of his evil
race.
- In the wild frenzy of his wicked heart, he
thought he would corrupt her trusted maid, her tried attendants, and corrupt
even her virtue with large presents:
- His hypocritic eyes were filled with tears, as
though they represented her desire— and, O you Gods above, what devious ways
are harbored in the hearts of mortals! Through his villainous desire he gathered
praise, and many lauded him for the great love he bore his
wife.
- Tereus viewed her
pretty pleading, and in his hot heart, imagined he was then embracing her; and
as he saw her kiss her father's lips, her arms around his neck, it seemed that
each caress was his; and so his fire increased. He even wished he were her
father; though, if it were so, his passion would no less be
impious.
- who, sleepless, imaged in
his doting mind the form of Philomela, recalled the shape of
her fair hands, and in his memory reviewed her movements. And his flaming
heart pictured her beauties yet unseen.—He fed his frenzy on itself, and
could not sleep.
- He scarcely could control his barbarous
desire—with difficulty stayed his lust, he followed all her actions with hot
eyes.
Procne
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Proserpina
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object:
- she was seen, beloved, and carried off by
Pluto—such the haste of sudden love.
Salmacis
- Perpetrator:
- made havoc as her greedy eyes
beheld.
- languid for his caressing, crazed,
distract, her passion difficult is held in check
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Scylla
- Perpetrator:
- And
when he wore his helmet, crested with gay plumes, she deemed it glorious; when
he held his shield shining with gold, no other seemed so grand; and when he
poised to hurl the tough spear home, she praised his skill and strength; and when
he bent his curving bow with arrow on the cord, she pictured him as
Phoebus taking aim,— but when, arrayed in purple, and upon
the back of his white war horse, proudly decked with richly broidered housings, he
reined in the nervous steed, and took his helmet off, showing his fearless
features, then the maid, daughter of Nisus, could control herself
no longer; and a frenzy seized her mind.
- She had a wild desire to open to the
enemy the heavy brass-bound gates, or anything that Minos could desire.
- why should he by force instead of my
consuming love, prevail to open the strong gates?
- Oh, let her love prevail to open for his army the
great gates. Only the thought of it, has filled her soul;
- “Another woman
crazed with passionate desires, which now inflame me, would not hesitate,
but with a fierce abandon would destroy whatever checked her passion. Who is
there with love to equal mine? I dare to go through flames and swords; but
swords and flames are not now needed, for I only need my royal father's
lock of purple hair. More precious than fine gold, it has a power to give
my heart all that it may desire.”
- And as she spoke she held out in
her guilty hand the prize, and begged him to accept it with her
love.
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Telethusa
- Perpetrator: No Instances of Perpetration
- Object: No Instances of Objectification
Tereus
- Perpetrator:
- when
he saw the beautiful and blushing
virgin, was consumed with love
- Her modest beauty was a worthy cause of worthy
love; but by his heritage, derived from a debasing clime,
his love was base; and fires unholy burned within from his own lawless
nature, just as fierce as are the habits of his evil
race.
- In the wild frenzy of his wicked heart, he
thought he would corrupt her trusted maid, her tried attendants, and corrupt
even her virtue with large presents:
- His hypocritic eyes were filled with tears, as
though they represented her desire— and, O you Gods above, what devious ways
are harbored in the hearts of mortals! Through his villainous desire he gathered
praise, and many lauded him for the great love he bore his
wife.
- Tereus viewed her
pretty pleading, and in his hot heart, imagined he was then embracing her; and
as he saw her kiss her father's lips, her arms around his neck, it seemed that
each caress was his; and so his fire increased. He even wished he were her
father; though, if it were so, his passion would no less be
impious.
- who, sleepless, imaged in
his doting mind the form of Philomela, recalled the shape of
her fair hands, and in his memory reviewed her movements. And his flaming
heart pictured her beauties yet unseen.—He fed his frenzy on itself, and
could not sleep.
- He scarcely could control his barbarous
desire—with difficulty stayed his lust, he followed all her actions with hot
eyes.
- Object: No Instances of Objectification