Metamorphoses Day 2

The stories of Hermaphroditus and Arachne both begin with a woman at the loom. This is a theme that is repeated throughout the parts of Metamorphoses that i have read. This is keeping with the idea of textiles as feminine art. In the Hermaphroditus myth, it is the narrator who is weaving, while in the Arachne myth, it is the titular character who is famous for her ability. It is interesting to see how the theme resonates differently in each story. Another theme that the two stories have in common is pride. When Hermaphroditus refuses Salmacis, she is too proud to accept his refusal and she basically rapes him; and Pallas' pride causes her to turn Arachne into a spider.

Metamorphoses Day 1

4. The conversation between Narcissus and Echo is interesting to me because of the way Echo can still get her point across even though she can only repeat what Narcissus is saying. I think that it is definitely something a real echo can't do. It is just interesting to see such a cool explanation for where echoes come from.

5. Narcissus really falls in love with his reflection. This is problematic because Narcissus thinks that it is another person he sees in the reflection, but when he reaches out, he disturbs the water and the reflection goes away. The foundation for love in this story is wanting something you think you can't have. First with Echo and Narcissus and then Narcissus with himself, the person experiencing unrequited love grows more enamored with the other person the more they refuse them.

The Odyssey Day 2

1. I think Calypso and her island represent temptation. If he were to stay, Odysseus could have it all: wealth, immortality, and a beautiful wife. I think that Calypso's role in the text could be to show the unfairness of Penelope's situation. Penelope must remain faithful while her husband has been gone for a very long time. For all she knows, he could be dead or have taken another wife. In that way, i think Calypso's speech to the gods serves as a way for the audience to further sympathize with the two women, who are going through the pain of losing the same man. What sets Penelope and Calypso apart is how they deal with their being alone. Penelope remains faithful and simply waits for her husband to come home while Calypso kidnaps a man and keeps him for her lover. 


4. The Cyclops, Polyphemos, is the son of Poseidon, so in a way, the Cyclops represents the Gods. The starting point for Odysseus's trials is when he refuses to pray with Polyphemos. This story is important because it shows the origin of Poseidon's grudge against Odysseus, which is the reason for the trials Odysseus faces.

The Odyssey Day 1

1. The first thing that struck me about the prologue was the fact that the narrator calls on the Muses to help him tell the story. I think the poetic voice is trying to simply convey the story to us and he does so by channeling the Muses, which are the god-like sources for the arts.

4. I think we hear Telemachus's story first because it shows what is happening to Odysseus's house while he is gone. The fact that his wife has many suitors just waiting to take his place introduces an urgency to the story and Odysseus's reason for trying to get home in the first place. I think the son comes before the father to show the influence of Odysseus's absence.

Genesis Day 5

1. Joseph hiding his identity from his brothers was very interesting to me. The lie goes on for four chapters and as the suspense builds, you can't help but wonder whether Joseph is trying to get revenge or just scare his brothers. I really think that he was going to have them killed. In fact, Joseph doesn't forgive his brothers until Judah offers his life to save Benjamin's. 2. I think this story has a lot to say about jealousy. The brothers are so jealous of Joseph that they want to kill him! Their lives eventually fall into the hands of the very person they wanted dead. It just goes to show you that you should be careful who you piss off.

Genesis Day 4

1. The two firstborn sons raise a few problems. First, the parents probably feel that they have to choose a favorite because only one of them is going to go on and be the leader of the Jewish people. God furthers this confusion by telling their mother that she has "two nations" in her womb. Jacob seems to be the better choice because he is not described by how he looks like Esau, but by his actions. 2. I think Isaac is having problems. He can barely speak, let alone decide who is going to go on to be the leader of the Jewish people. It may have something to do with the fact that his father almost murdered him because God said so. 5. In my edition of Genesis, the title is "Jacob wrestles with God". This is an interesting concept. It suggests that Jacob is fighting to be recognized as the next father of the Hebrew people. I think this fight can be interpreted as a test for Jacob to see if he is worthy.

Genesis Day 3

1. I think that Abraham knew exactly what was going to happen when he went to Egypt. He was in the middle of a famine, so they were probably desperate for food. When Pharaoh saw Sarah, he took her in and gave Abraham food and servants. I am pretty sure this was all just a devious trick. 2. If you look at this story from Sarah's perspective, you will probably get the same feeling. I think that Sarah stays quiet because she is being obedient to her husband. She gained a high position in society, and later, free food, servants, and money. 3. The story of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar is interesting to me because of the sheer craziness of it all. Sarai knows that she can't give Abram a child, so she selflessly offers Hagar to him so that he can produce offspring. I could never imagine sharing my spouse with another person. This story really makes you wonder if you could ever love someone as much as that.