Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Echo and Narcissus

In Greek mythology there was a wood nymph, Echo, was in love with a youth named Narcissus. Narcissus was very self-centered and though no person deserved, or was worthy, of his love.
Echo was obsessed with Narcissus and she also loved talking. Echo got in trouble with Juno and so Juno took her voice. Echo could only repeat what was said to her, and nothing more.
One day Echo waited in the woods for Narcissus, hoping to catch his attention. She repeated a few phrases that he spoke to her, then she tried to run into his arms/embrace. He was appalled and she ran off into the mountains and died of grief. She became part of the mountain stone and only her voice remained, to repeat what others said.
Narcissus was still loved by many but the gods were tired of his self-centeredness and so they made him love an imaginary person so he could experience what it was like to not have someone love you back. He goes to a pond and doesn't understand the concept of a reflection in the water and doesn't understand why he can't communicate with the reflection, not realizing its his own reflection. He also dies of grief. The nymphs mourned his death, and in response, Echo mourned along with them.

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