Lombardo's Metamorphoses Comparative Analysis

Stories of old and new continuously bring forth new ideas and thoughts that may have never crossed one’s mind. The continuous barrage of new information must be filtered through so that the reader can know what information is true or made-up. In Stanley Lombardo’s translation of Metamorphoses, a story is being told of mythical origins that are pasted together. In Robin Waterfield’s translation of Symposium, we read about an actual conversation that took place many years ago between a few wise individuals in regards to true belief versus knowledge. Lastly, in Andrew George’s translation of The Epic of Gilgamesh, we have the mother of Gilgamesh who is giving a reading of her son’s dream. Although Gilgamesh’s mother gives an accurate reading of Gilgamesh’s dream and Medea’s love for Jason seems to be right, when we look at these two situations through the lens of true belief versus knowledge, both situations are contrast in the way the solution was found. True belief versus knowledge is brought up …show more content…
However, in order for Medea’s father to marry off his daughter, one of the suitors needs to bring him the Golden Fleece. In Medea’s monologue, she contemplates why she should love Jason. “Why fight it Medea?... Who, expect a monster, would not be moved by his youth, his high birth, his manhood? Or his beauty alone?” (Lomardo 175) Medea is mulling over actual facts regarding why she should help, and eventually marry, Jason. Knowledge comes through in this situation and is the driving force that influences Medea’s decision. In this situation, Medea had factual evidence to support her decision, which turns out to be the right one because Jason asks Medea to draw upon his own strength in order to heal her father from old age. If Medea had no prior information about Jason, and had decided to help him capture the Golden Fleece in spite of having no information about Jason, then it would have been true belief that drove her