Tracing Changes in Pythagoras Speech in Ovids Metamorphoses

Tracing transports in Pythagoras Speech in Ovids Metamorphoses Change in Ovid, as well as in life, seems to be the only constant. Change is the subject of the Metamorphoses and Ovids purpose in recounting myths is established from the very kickoff My intention is to tell of bodies changed to different forms... with a poem that runs from the worlds beginning to our consume days (1.1-4). From this foundation, Ovid launches into his stories, using metamorphosis more as a fomite for telling his stories than as an actual subject matter. Although he retells religious myths, Ovid is non writing a religious manuscript. Rather, the product is a work of literature. Ovid is conscious that he is writing literature, not religion, and implied in his intention to tell of bodies changed is in addition to demonstrate how skillful he can retell these stories. Ovid could turn out dealt with the metamorphoses news report in a philosophical manner, but philosophy seems give away of come on in this rich literary work. For this reason, the speech of Pythagoras in book 15 seems to be an odd shift in tone. Using Pythagoras as a mouthpiece, Ovids playful narrative abruptly turns into a long diatribe against center of attention eating. Given the informal genius of the previous fourteen books, this scene seems out of place. But the Pythagorean episode is not without its purpose. Pythagoras speech on the nature of metamorphosis is Ovids way of contrasting his own eloquent style of level in the Metamorphoses. By contrast, Pythagoras speech is a rather dry oration. It is a reminder on Ovids part of what the Metamorphoses would have been had he concentrated on metamorphosis as an actual subject rather than a literary vehicle.1 Unlike Ovids oth... ... part, immortal, will be borne above the stars my name will be remembered... I shall be living always (15.867-879). This is a highly wry ending, especially since in the Pythagorean episode, Ovid has maintained that nothing sa ve the intelligence is immortal. Ovid seems pretentious to assert that his poetry will be immortal. But we have not read the Metamorphoses correctly if we take this seriously. Ovids tone is tongue-in-cheek in a large majority of his poem, and it be would out of character for him to assert this. It is a bit of subtle humor on Ovids part. Humorous or conceited, Ovid so far has proven to be correct. 1 Karl Galinsky, Ovids Metamorphoses An Introduction to the canonic Aspects, University of California Press, 1975, p 106. 2 Richard D. McKirahan, Jr., Philosophy Before Socrates, Hackett Publishers, 1994, p 81. 3 Galinsky, 48.