Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses, Part B
The first three sections of Part B make up a single story. I thought it started out interestingly, with the lustful man, the kidnaping, and the brutal rape/mutilation of Philomela. However, the murder of Procne's son was too much for me. The cruel actions of Tereus had a purpose: to make him a horrible villain. Procne's actions were to be those of revenge, but the fact that she killed her own innocent son to get back at Tereus makes her no more righteous than her husband. If I were to rewrite this story, I would have to make the boy a product of Tereus's infidelity. The child would be grown, terrible, and hateful to Procne. Another option would be to have her kill off his favorite hound or something of that sort. I'm also not entirely sure why the cutting out of the tongue was necessary. She was already isolated. I would not have her tongue removed in my version, as I don't see the point.
The next five parts are about Medea and Jason. I would rewrite this as a deceitful man seeking out a witch so that he might use her powers to benefit himself. She would fall in love with him and help him, but after this, he would betray her and marry another. She goes through great trouble for him before realizing he is using her. This story also had the heroine murdering innocent children in the name of revenge and that doesn't sit right with me. In my story, she would simply kill the man who betrayed her. I do enjoy the betrayal and using of others for personal gain though. If Jason was not good to her, and his brother was his enemy, would that not mean that his brother would have been her ally? I might be tempted to set Medea up with Jason's brother in my version. Throughout all of Part B, a common theme is daughters leaving their fathers and being betrayed before they exact their cruel revenge.
Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses by Tony Kline, link to the reading online.
(Image Information: The Rape of Philomela
Source: Wikimedia Commons)
The next five parts are about Medea and Jason. I would rewrite this as a deceitful man seeking out a witch so that he might use her powers to benefit himself. She would fall in love with him and help him, but after this, he would betray her and marry another. She goes through great trouble for him before realizing he is using her. This story also had the heroine murdering innocent children in the name of revenge and that doesn't sit right with me. In my story, she would simply kill the man who betrayed her. I do enjoy the betrayal and using of others for personal gain though. If Jason was not good to her, and his brother was his enemy, would that not mean that his brother would have been her ally? I might be tempted to set Medea up with Jason's brother in my version. Throughout all of Part B, a common theme is daughters leaving their fathers and being betrayed before they exact their cruel revenge.
(Image Information: Medea After Murdering Jason's Family
Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses by Tony Kline, link to the reading online.
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