Reading Notes: Metamorphoses I, Part B

The Story of Narcissus 

    So, the term "narcissist" is pretty commonly used today, and we usually use it to describe someone egotistical and self-centered. Reading Narcissus' story, that makes a lot of sense. Narcissus is apparently gorgeous, so much so that men and women all around him fall in love with him on sight, including our poor Echo, so named because she is essentially cursed to only be able to speak the last words that someone has said in her presence. 

    But Narcissus rejects everyone, and doesn't seem particularly interested in romance. Some of his scorned would-be lovers lament that they wish Narcissus could love himself, and so experience their frustration at being in love with someone completely unattainable. The goddess Nemesis hears them, and makes that a reality. Later, when Narcissus sees his own reflection in a fountain, he is completely enraptured. He stares at his own reflection, not seeming to realize that it's just an image of himself, and falls in love immediately.

    He stares at himself, trying to reach out and hug the man he's fallen in love with, or to just touch him, but only touches water. Somehow, he still doesn't realize that he's just seeing himself in the water (is he just that oblivious, or is it part of Nemesis' curse?), and gets more and more frustrated. Towards the end he seems to realize that it is himself that he has fallen in love with, but that doesn't really seem to cool his passion or desperation at all. It should be noted that Echo is watching all of this, but can't say anything, because of her own curse.

    Reaching the peak of his frustration and desperation, Narcissus begins beating himself up (literally) and tearing at his clothes. He does this so much that he....beats himself to death? I didn't really understand the death scene, but that seems to be what happens. He tears at and hits himself so intensely that he kills himself. Echo can only echo (get it?) his sounds of pain, and watches as he lies down and dies. 

The flower, the narcissus, that our protagonist turned into at the end of his story. (Source: John Scheepers)

    

    Reading this story, it's easy to see why we use the word narcissist the way we do. It's even classified as a psychological personality disorder, which is characterized by delusions of grandeur, an intense need for admiration and attention from others, and a sense of entitlement (source: New Life Ticket). It's interesting how these old stories have links to terminology we use today, and even medical conditions. The story of Narcissus is a great example of that.

Bibliography:

Ovid's Metamorphoses, Books 1-4, translated by Tony Kline (2000)