The Literature of Love Context: Early Texts - Ideas about Love Flashcards
Plato himself
Plato was a Greek philosopher who taught between 429-347 BC
Socrates was his teacher and he in turn taught Aristotle
Great truths about love are thrashed out in a series of Dialogues in which Socrates takes the lead as teacher and mentor
Extended metaphors and analogies help readers to understand the nature of love
One of his most famous dialogues is called “The Symposium” which is staged as a post-dinner party conversation
Aristophanic love
Plato’s myth states that long ago there were 3 genders - male, female and androgynous, and that each person was twice what they were now
These creatures were very powerful, vigorous and made threatening attacks on the gods, so Zeus cut each being in two
They longed to find their other half and to reunite to be complete
This is the origin of our instinctive desire for other human beings
Key ideas about aristophanic love
Attraction based on “fitting” with the other person, no matter what qualities they share
Suggests a life-long partnership is ideal
Desire isn’t just sexual - it is a desire to be whole again
The idea of “soulmates” - use “aristophanic love” in the exam as this is a more technical term
Symposium quote
“Love is the name of our pursuit of wholeness, for our desire to be complete”
Plato’s ladder of love
Physical/sexual contact is the lowest on the ladder
Recognising the Divine Beauty is the highest
Plato thinks that most people sadly squander the real power of love by limiting themselves to the mere pleasures of physical beauty
Ovid himself
Ovid was a Roman poet who lived between 43 BC and 18 AD
Ovid is best known for his 15-book epic poem “Metamorphoses” - it contains 250+ myths and charts the history of the world from creation
He also wrote love poetry and an early form of self-help book on how to have a successful relationship (including sex tips)
Echo and Narcissus
Echo was a wood nymph and loved Narcissus. Narcissus was very beautiful but loved nobody but himself
She longed to tell him of her love but she had lost her voice
One day she ran up to him and threw herself upon him
Narcissus became angry and threw Echo off of him. Echo’s heart was broken. She ran away to live in the mountains and grief killed her
All that remained of Echo was her voice which replied in kind when others spoke
Narcissus came up to a pool of water one day and was immediately enamoured by a beautiful water spirit. He failed to recognise that it was in fact his own reflection
Narcissus also died of grief. A flower grew in his place
Pygmalion
In Ovid’s narrative, Pygmalion was a Cypriot sculptor who carved a perfect woman out of ivory
Pygmalion fell in love with his statue as it was so beautiful and realistic
He kissed the statue and it came to life for Aphrodite had granted his wish
Pygmalion married the sculpture/woman under Aphrodite’s blessing
