Throughout many Greek myths whether it is The Quest of the Golden Fleece or the heroic story of Theseus, love is a major player in the events that unfolds. Medea’s love for Jason and Ariadne’s love for Theseus had both played a big role in the success of each hero’s respective missions. The role of love may be important but the pursuit of love is just as important because it affects the characters emotionally and physically as well as lead to unanticipated events. In one particular myth, a huntress named Daphne is being urged by her father to marry but she refuses any man that tries to woo her. Instead of pursuing love and trying to marry, she wants to be “off to the deep woods, blissful in her freedom” (Daphne p119). One day, Apollo saw
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In the story, it said, “Daphne flew on, even more frightened than before. If Apollo was indeed following her, the case was hopeless, but she was determined to struggle until the very end” (p 120 Daphne). The fact that she was so desperate to escape means that she truly wants to have nothing to do with love and be by herself. Because of the way she feels, she goes as far as to ask her father, Peneus, the river god, to help her. Peneus heard Daphne’s plea and turned her into a Laurel tree. Despite her turning into a tree, Apollo’s love for her does not dissupate. He says, “O fairest if maidens, you are lost to me… but at least you shall be my tree. With your leaves my victors shall wreathe their brows. You shall have your part in all my triumphs” (Daphne p120). This is another example of how love is a powerful force and that Apollo can’t just leave Daphne; Daphne had turned into a tree but instead of leaving her, Apollo claims the tree as his own, and says that he would make her part of every battle that he wins. At the end of the story it says, “The beautiful shinning-leaved tree seemed to nod its waving head as if in happy consent” (Daphne p120). This final part indicates that Daphne is happy as long as she does not have to do anything that is related to
In the story, it said, “Daphne flew on, even more frightened than before. If Apollo was indeed following her, the case was hopeless, but she was determined to struggle until the very end” (p 120 Daphne). The fact that she was so desperate to escape means that she truly wants to have nothing to do with love and be by herself. Because of the way she feels, she goes as far as to ask her father, Peneus, the river god, to help her. Peneus heard Daphne’s plea and turned her into a Laurel tree. Despite her turning into a tree, Apollo’s love for her does not dissupate. He says, “O fairest if maidens, you are lost to me… but at least you shall be my tree. With your leaves my victors shall wreathe their brows. You shall have your part in all my triumphs” (Daphne p120). This is another example of how love is a powerful force and that Apollo can’t just leave Daphne; Daphne had turned into a tree but instead of leaving her, Apollo claims the tree as his own, and says that he would make her part of every battle that he wins. At the end of the story it says, “The beautiful shinning-leaved tree seemed to nod its waving head as if in happy consent” (Daphne p120). This final part indicates that Daphne is happy as long as she does not have to do anything that is related to