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isitmemorex's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
jenmachin_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I started reading this for a module whilst at University called "Heroines: Mythological Women from Antiquity to Present", and I'm so glad I did.
Ovid was way ahead of his time, giving voices to women who were often excluded from ancient narratives. On top of this, he gives voices to women of all stations: Slaves, unmarried women, abandoned women, widows, etc.
He brilliantly portrays the confused emotions of a jilted or waiting woman. He depicts strong women who have agency, yet they are still tricked by love and trapped in the patriarchal systems which repress them, and continue to repress women to this day. Ovid condemns the actions of male "heroes", highlighting their unethical abandonment of women and how they have abused their love for their own gain.
He successfully portrays the irony of patriarchy, despite the period of his writing:
"I swear that the Mycenaean King has shared no couch with me. If I lie, leave me. If I asked you to swear a similar oath- bravest one, swear you have tasted no joys except the joy you have known with me- you would refuse"
However, as it is a text written in the 1st century BC, there are some problematic elements. For example, Briseis' love for Achilles. She is his slave and concubine, captured after he murdered her family. I find it unrealistic that she should write such a romantic and flattering letter to her captor/rapist. And the perception that women are prizes who unconditionally love men is very concerningly present in ancient cultures.
I was also quite disappointed that Sappo's letter was written to a man, rather than one of her female lovers.
Overall, Ovid's poetry is stunning and he grants these beautiful words to women. I read Hero to Leander whilst listening to "Luminary" by Joel Sunny and this made the experience even more beautiful.
4.25⭐
Ovid was way ahead of his time, giving voices to women who were often excluded from ancient narratives. On top of this, he gives voices to women of all stations: Slaves, unmarried women, abandoned women, widows, etc.
He brilliantly portrays the confused emotions of a jilted or waiting woman. He depicts strong women who have agency, yet they are still tricked by love and trapped in the patriarchal systems which repress them, and continue to repress women to this day. Ovid condemns the actions of male "heroes", highlighting their unethical abandonment of women and how they have abused their love for their own gain.
He successfully portrays the irony of patriarchy, despite the period of his writing:
"I swear that the Mycenaean King has shared no couch with me. If I lie, leave me. If I asked you to swear a similar oath- bravest one, swear you have tasted no joys except the joy you have known with me- you would refuse"
However, as it is a text written in the 1st century BC, there are some problematic elements. For example, Briseis' love for Achilles. She is his slave and concubine, captured after he murdered her family. I find it unrealistic that she should write such a romantic and flattering letter to her captor/rapist. And the perception that women are prizes who unconditionally love men is very concerningly present in ancient cultures.
I was also quite disappointed that Sappo's letter was written to a man, rather than one of her female lovers.
Overall, Ovid's poetry is stunning and he grants these beautiful words to women. I read Hero to Leander whilst listening to "Luminary" by Joel Sunny and this made the experience even more beautiful.
4.25⭐
444ndromeda's review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cdelorenzo's review against another edition
5.0
“Juro por tu regreso y por tu cuerpo, que son mis dioses”
“—si se me permitió verlo, que se me permita, también, contar lo que vi—“
[Traducción de Ana Pérez Vega]
“—si se me permitió verlo, que se me permita, también, contar lo que vi—“
[Traducción de Ana Pérez Vega]
patr0cles's review against another edition
5.0
Lo he disfrutado muchísimo, y eso que me lo he tenido que leer prácticamente en dos días y deprisa y corriendo porque, como siempre, una se acaba dejando las lecturas obligatorias de la universidad para el último momento. Lo volveré a leer en algún momento, de manera más pausada y pudiendo detenerme en leer las notas para entender todo bien, porque hay muchísimas referencias a linajes, mitos, etc. que no conozco.
Dentro del contexto en el que se escribió esta obra, creo que es increíble que se ponga voz a las mujeres de la mitología, pero sobre todo a aquéllas que acabaron desdichadas y maltratadas por el héroe de turno. Ovidio emplea sus voces para recalcar los malos comportamientos de héroes, a veces siguiendo algunas de las tragedias griegas, pero de una manera mucho más íntima y personal. Se le da, en muchas ocasiones, profundidad a aquellos personajes femeninos a los que nunca se trató de entender (por ejemplo, Helena de Esparta).
Si os gusta la mitología, lo recomiendo mucho. Cada carta explica, de manera resumida, el mito en el que se basa, así que tampoco hace falta mucho conocimiento previo. Eso sí, creo que es para leer cada una de las cartas con calma para poder apreciar cada una de ellas todo lo bien que se merecen.
Dentro del contexto en el que se escribió esta obra, creo que es increíble que se ponga voz a las mujeres de la mitología, pero sobre todo a aquéllas que acabaron desdichadas y maltratadas por el héroe de turno. Ovidio emplea sus voces para recalcar los malos comportamientos de héroes, a veces siguiendo algunas de las tragedias griegas, pero de una manera mucho más íntima y personal. Se le da, en muchas ocasiones, profundidad a aquellos personajes femeninos a los que nunca se trató de entender (por ejemplo, Helena de Esparta).
Si os gusta la mitología, lo recomiendo mucho. Cada carta explica, de manera resumida, el mito en el que se basa, así que tampoco hace falta mucho conocimiento previo. Eso sí, creo que es para leer cada una de las cartas con calma para poder apreciar cada una de ellas todo lo bien que se merecen.