Speech And Image In Ovid's Metamorphoses
Ethan Lewis
FWS 10.10
12/4/16
Communication Speech and image are constantly intertwined with one another in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Speech and image are also complementary of one another's meanings. They work together in a way where someone who is taking in both speech and image can decisively understand a situation. On one’s own, speech can be used to create image, and image in a way can be used to tell a story. Having both of them complement each other, even as individuals, shows how strong they can be when used together. Although, Ovid also shows that in some cases, individually, there can be a disconnection between speech and image causing conflict. He does this to emphasize the necessity of the cohesion between both of them. …show more content…
The morality or intentions of the communication do not matter, it is simply fact that information was relayed without miscommunication. In Diana and Actaeon, the first example of speech and image working together was when Actaeon first stumbles upon the cave. Ovid wants the reader to understand what Diana and the nymphs opinions of men were. He does by writing, “Seeing a man, all naked as they were, the nymphs, beating their breasts, filled the whole grove with sudden screams and clustered around Diana” (Ovid, 57). Obviously the nymphs were very rattled that Actaeon sees them naked, and phrases like “beating their breasts” and “sudden scream” exemplifies that point even more. The combination of speech by screaming and image of women beating their chests not only clearly communicates their emotions to the reader, but also to Actaeon as well. We know their intentions reached Actaeon with Ovid’s description of “setting terror in his heart” (Ovid, …show more content…
He is answering the reader's curiosity of the “what if” scenarios when speech and image are not used together. What is the significance though, of the power between speech and image? Why does Ovid include such prominent examples of them in Metamorphoses? The answer not only comes from stories in Metamorphoses, but also the book itself. Ovid is attempting to say that to communicate, is to be alive. Communication allows one to build a life, and to ultimately understand. When a character in a story lacks the ability to communicate, they are most likely destined for despair or death. This is prominently seen in Actaeon’s inability to call his dogs off. Actaeon loses his identity, he loses what made him who he was before, image and speech. Characters that do survive are those who find a way to express themselves and communicate whether with speech, image, or both. This is seen with Philomel and her communication with the fabric she wove. Philomel found an alternative to speech with the use of image, giving herself
FWS 10.10
12/4/16
Communication Speech and image are constantly intertwined with one another in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Speech and image are also complementary of one another's meanings. They work together in a way where someone who is taking in both speech and image can decisively understand a situation. On one’s own, speech can be used to create image, and image in a way can be used to tell a story. Having both of them complement each other, even as individuals, shows how strong they can be when used together. Although, Ovid also shows that in some cases, individually, there can be a disconnection between speech and image causing conflict. He does this to emphasize the necessity of the cohesion between both of them. …show more content…
The morality or intentions of the communication do not matter, it is simply fact that information was relayed without miscommunication. In Diana and Actaeon, the first example of speech and image working together was when Actaeon first stumbles upon the cave. Ovid wants the reader to understand what Diana and the nymphs opinions of men were. He does by writing, “Seeing a man, all naked as they were, the nymphs, beating their breasts, filled the whole grove with sudden screams and clustered around Diana” (Ovid, 57). Obviously the nymphs were very rattled that Actaeon sees them naked, and phrases like “beating their breasts” and “sudden scream” exemplifies that point even more. The combination of speech by screaming and image of women beating their chests not only clearly communicates their emotions to the reader, but also to Actaeon as well. We know their intentions reached Actaeon with Ovid’s description of “setting terror in his heart” (Ovid, …show more content…
He is answering the reader's curiosity of the “what if” scenarios when speech and image are not used together. What is the significance though, of the power between speech and image? Why does Ovid include such prominent examples of them in Metamorphoses? The answer not only comes from stories in Metamorphoses, but also the book itself. Ovid is attempting to say that to communicate, is to be alive. Communication allows one to build a life, and to ultimately understand. When a character in a story lacks the ability to communicate, they are most likely destined for despair or death. This is prominently seen in Actaeon’s inability to call his dogs off. Actaeon loses his identity, he loses what made him who he was before, image and speech. Characters that do survive are those who find a way to express themselves and communicate whether with speech, image, or both. This is seen with Philomel and her communication with the fabric she wove. Philomel found an alternative to speech with the use of image, giving herself