Love Theme in Ovids Pygmalion Story

Table of Contents

Introduction
Ways The Story of Pygmalion is Typical of Greek Myth
Ovids Illustration of Pygmalions Love
Conclusion
Work Cited

Introduction

In the mythology of the Greeks, Ovid, a Roman poet, is credited with writing the epic poem Pygmalion, published many years ago but has maintained its relevance throughout history and into the modern day. The love Pygmalion feels for the creature he has created is the storys primary focus. He was an artist who sculpted an ivory statue representing his ideal woman and named it Galatea. It was in response to the vices that women portrayed during his period. Pygmalion placed excessive value on the sculptor by playing to the goddess Venus, who was responsible for bringing the statue to life, and eventually, Pygmalion wed Galatea. The Pygmalion myth illuminates several significant and prevalent themes throughout Greek mythology. These themes revolve around the idea that physical beauty is synonymous with perfection. As a consequence, the essay will investigate the numerous ways in which the story of Pygmalion is typical of Greek myth while demonstrating how the poet Ovid portrays love as natural and justifiable.

Ways The Story of Pygmalion is Typical of Greek Myth

Myths acted as a teaching tool, while others served as a warning against engaging in acts that enraged the gods. They are stories passed down from generation to generation and have remained unchanged. Some are based on actual events, while others are entirely fictitious. Greek myths play a more fundamental function in ancient and modern society, elevating them above mere fiction. Like any other story, Greek myths feature fantasy elements, action scenes, violent characters, a setting, a conflict, and a resolution as sacred tales that explain the cosmos and the role of humanity. Most myths describe aspects of the natural world or human behavior.

The story of Pygmalion contains elements of Greek myth, as evidenced by Pygmalions request to Venus for his wants. The day of Venuss festival came, celebrated throughout Cyprus, and heifers, their curved horns gilded, fell, to the blow on their snowy neck. The incense was smoking, when Pygmalion, having made his offering. (Metamorphoses par 24). Given the presence and participation of the goddess of love, the story has the potential to be sacred. The story reveals the social constraints that prompted Pygmalion to build the sculpture and his challenges. Ovids choice to have Venus, the goddess of love, fix Pygmalions predicament indicated that this was his path. Since it contains numerous aspects from Greek mythology, the story exhibits many features of a generic Greek myth.

Ovids Illustration of Pygmalions Love

Ovid demonstrates that Pygmalions love is natural through his actions of Pygmalion, which is a point he makes throughout the story. with wonderful skill, he carved a figure, brilliantly, out of snow-white ivory, no mortal woman, and fell in love with his own creation. (Metamorphoses par 23). Pygmalion shows the statue how much he cares for it by dressing it in costly clothes and giving it gifts, even though he feels sorry for it. As represented by Ovid, Pygmalion was so preoccupied and obsessed with the statue hence pleaded with Venus, the goddess of love, to grant his wish and turn the statue into a living, breathing person. Ovid can portray the love generated by Pygmalion as natural and justify it by virtue of the activities he took for this reason.

Conclusion

In conclusion, myths are stories that have been told for ages but have not altered much. Pygmalion is representative of the Greek myth genre and exemplifies Ovids view of love as something organic and understandable. Ovids decision to make the goddess of love, Venus, solve Pygmaelions problem was indicative of his direction. The story has many characteristics of a classic Greek myth since it draws on elements from Greek mythology. Even though he feels terrible for the statue not being human, Pygmalion shows how much he cares by lavishing it with expensive clothing and gifts.