The View Of Human Nature In Ovid's Metamorphoss

Ovid, one of Rome’s greatest poets, predicted that his fame would live on forever. So far, his prediction has proven accurate. In “Metamorphoses” Ovid depicts an unfavorable opinion of humanity in a way in which he almost see’s himself as separate from humanity. Ovid’s view of human nature is that it is innocent and predictable. As though it is the behavior of children. As the title suggests, Metamorphoses is a view of transformations of many kinds, from the obvious to the imprecise. The introduction to the book by ovid features two myths about the creation of the world. He writes “My intention is to tell of bodies changed, to different forms; the gods, who made the changes, will help me – or I hope so – with a poem that runs from the worlds …show more content…
Love is most often described as the true driving force behind the transformations in Metamorphoses. Ovid discusses love through the many stories he tells however the reoccurring theme is that love, despite its glory, often comes with despair and anguish. And that this has monumental effects on our human nature. Ovid shows in the metamorphosis that human nature, although pure in its innocence, can be easily tainted by love and to a lesser extent by the gods, who use love as a tool, as a weapon, to control …show more content…
In the story, a nymph named Echo, whom because she was cursed by Juno, queen of the gods, could only repeat the last words she heard. Juno One day she cast her eyes on Narcissus, a man whose beauty was so divine no man or woman could resist. Echo fell deeply in love with Narcissus but to her dismay Narcissus retreated, he did not love her back "Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!" he exclaimed. Echo was heartbroken, yet still watched on from afar. Many years passed and Narcissus denied many more lovers. Until one day a young man cursed him. “May Narcissus love one day, so, himself, and not win over the creature whom he loves!”. Nemesis, the god of vengeance heard this prayer and made it so. Sure enough, Narcissus was relaxing by a lake one day when he caught a glimpse of his own reflection in the water, transfixed by his own beauty, he too fell deeply in love with the image of himself. But to his misery, he could never touch or embrace his reflexion. Echo saw her lover and felt sorry for him, however, there was nothing she could do but repeat what had already been said. As Narcissus threw himself into the lake to be united with his reflection he began to drown, to his despair, he called out to the forest as he sunk. “Farewell, dear boy, beloved in vain!” were his last words and Echo called the same words back to him. “and death closed the eyes