Change In Mandelbaum's 'The Metamorphoses'

Change. As simple as the word may seem, there are many distinct contexts in which the word may be used. This essay will focus on one of Oxford dictionary's many definitions stating that change is a verb meaning “To turn (a thing) into (also to) something else; to convert into”. The inevitability of change is a concept in which Ovid’s characters struggle frequently with. The complete change in form of concrete subjects within the metamorphoses are often the root of the stories’ chaotic tension. Much of Allen Mandelbaum’s translation of The Metamorphoses of Ovid is consumed by transformations, just as may assumed from its title. Throughout the entirety of The Metamorphoses an overarching question is continually brought to mind as each change= …show more content…
It is even possible that one can cause another; however, Pythagoras brings to light the argument that no matter how drastic the change, it is still trivial, as we still maintain our soul. After captivating the reader's attention with his rhyme scheme, previously discussed, he begins the heart of his lesson stating, “since we are parts of the world, we, too are chargeable.”(531). The period at the end of the sentence is one of significance; within this passage it marks the end of the first sentence. Ovid often utilizes enjambment to create emphasis on a certain idea. By avoiding terminal punctuation until the sixth line, Pythagoras is able to introduce his ideas over multiple lines, reinforcing the magnitude of what it is he is preaching. In doing so he effectively informs the reader that humanity has nothing to do with the form one comes in, because we are souls that can be transfered from being to being. Whether the change is internal, such as a change in point of view, or external, it is our conscious thought which gives us our humanity. Although Mandelbaum’s translation of Pythagoras poetry rarely uses terminal points, it is important to note that he does utilize the colon and semicolon with some frequency, for example he discloses “so, forget what I had meant to teach,/ know this: the heavens and all things beneath/the heavens change their forms”(531). In poetry, colons can be captivating, as …show more content…
He utilizes a very dignified syntax. Within this short passage, made up of only 2 sentences, spanning over 13 lines, both could be classified as periodic sentences. In doing this Pythagoras creates a degree of suspense which causes the reader to become engaged and excited for him to finally get to the point of his sentence. For instance, in the second sentence he begins by listing many forms a being can find themselves in. He states “we can dwell in bodies of wild beasts/ and hide within the shapes of cows and sheep”, it takes him three lines to finally decipher the message that we must always recognize all living beings and respect them regardless of the vessel they are in. He ultimately satisfying the reader at the end of the sentence, again asserting his stance for vegetarianism and respect of living beings. In sum, with Pythagoras’ usage of highly structured syntax, and poetic form, he creates an answer to a previously rhetorical question of humanity. Although on the surface level he does seem to be preaching for vegetarianism, there is a deeper meaning to his words, rooted in the idea of change. He fully believes that humans can change forms, just as commonly as humans change their thoughts and actions, highlighting the importance that change can be internal or external, but what matters is that our souls never change