The story of Venus and Adonis is one of a thwarted seduction by the classical goddess of love. Venus retells the story of her greatest conquest, Mars, the god of war, in lines 95-114 of Venus and Adonis. Mars is the epitome of masculinity and Venus describes his transformation from this pinnacle of war into her personal slave. By telling Adonis of Mars’s transformation, Venus is both boasting and trying to show Adonis there is no shame in succumbing to her feminine wiles. Venus directly addresses Adonis in this section, “'O, pity,' 'gan she cry, 'flint-hearted boy!
'Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy?” (Shakespeare 95-96). Venus paints herself as a pitiful love struck woman who can’t understand why Adonis might not be interested in her. The phrase “flint-hearted boy” references the material called flint that is a sharp and brittle stone that can be easily broken leaving sharp edges. This seems to be a bit of foreshadowing to the brittle and breakable nature of Adonis himself as his later hunting accident kills him. Adonis being broken leaves sharp edges that wound Venus’s heart. Venus now goes into the tale of her love affair with Mars, god of war. “'I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now” (Shakespeare 97). Venus admits that she has been the seductress and also the seduced. The use of the …show more content…
“'Over my altars hath he hung his lance” Venus’s altar can be considered her entire body, although certain regions would fit this metaphor more accurately. However, Venus being the goddess and embodiment of love and sex, makes her the ultimate altar to work these concepts. Lance obviously refers to Mars’ penis, especially when phrased with the visual of hanging. Mars’ shield is described as “batter’d” apparently from Venus’s assault on him, and his crest, his symbol in battle, described as “uncontrolled” meaning unconquered and yet discarded at her altar (Shakespeare
'Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy?” (Shakespeare 95-96). Venus paints herself as a pitiful love struck woman who can’t understand why Adonis might not be interested in her. The phrase “flint-hearted boy” references the material called flint that is a sharp and brittle stone that can be easily broken leaving sharp edges. This seems to be a bit of foreshadowing to the brittle and breakable nature of Adonis himself as his later hunting accident kills him. Adonis being broken leaves sharp edges that wound Venus’s heart. Venus now goes into the tale of her love affair with Mars, god of war. “'I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now” (Shakespeare 97). Venus admits that she has been the seductress and also the seduced. The use of the …show more content…
“'Over my altars hath he hung his lance” Venus’s altar can be considered her entire body, although certain regions would fit this metaphor more accurately. However, Venus being the goddess and embodiment of love and sex, makes her the ultimate altar to work these concepts. Lance obviously refers to Mars’ penis, especially when phrased with the visual of hanging. Mars’ shield is described as “batter’d” apparently from Venus’s assault on him, and his crest, his symbol in battle, described as “uncontrolled” meaning unconquered and yet discarded at her altar (Shakespeare