Art of Love - Ovid Essay

Words: 1253
Pages: 6
Open Document
The Art of Love
Framing for a Misogynist

The poetry of Ovid exemplified in The Art of Love is one of the only examples of the contemporary social behavior exhibited during the time of Rome. Ovid writes about social activities, proper style, women, and how to obtain them. Through Ovid’s perspective, there are three different ways to consider a woman. These three views include relating a woman to a game, a beautiful treasure, and as a means to assert social status. Comparatively, Andreas Capellanus writes in a way that makes women seem respected, worthy and as something to a man would willingly devote his life to. Both men have a clear fascination with women and their relationship to men. However, their distinct writing styles cause …show more content…
With this, Capellanus explains that a man “should do nothing disagreeable that might annoy her. And if inadvertently he should do something improper that offends, let him straightway confess with downcast face that he has done wrong” (2.1, 1). The mystery of Ovid is how he longs for women and may even understand them as much as any man ever can, but because of his surrounding influences during the late first century, he is caught with a conflicting view toward women. He pulls from what he has been taught about women, and part of this societal view is that women are no more than sex objects. The lens through which he looks at women is obscure. One way that Ovid sees women is as a way for men to assert and increase their own social status. One connection he makes is in showing a woman’s hunger for sexuality by saying, “the queen, desired this bull for her lover” (Art 1. 288-317). Women are not searching for the lonely small calf, but instead they desire the bull, the masculine man. Ovid is showing that women also desire sexual encounters and that, just like men, they are seeking the best, most dignified partner. This means that a man who gains the most exquisite beauty must himself be a fine specimen, and therefore, will also be recognized by his peers. Though some of Ovid’s statements do put women in a negative light, representing him as a misogynist, especially when in comparison to
Show More

Related Documents: Art of Love - Ovid Essay

Ovid Art Of Love Essay

300 M/W 3:30-4:45 Essay 2: The Art of Love Ovid’s “The Art of Love” is perhaps one of the first documented “dating self-help” works of literature to be published. The poem is broken down into three sections in which Ovid communicates to men how to find a woman, how to keep her nonce she is found, and finally, how women can find and keep the love of a man. From a woman’s perspective, I would guess that some, if not most, of the methods and techniques mentioned by Ovid are similar to those men use today…

Words 944 - Pages 4

Theme Of Rape In Ovid's Metamorphoses

whether it be at the will of the gods or mortal man. From these unions, deities and heroes are born, and/or social institutions are reinforced. Most stories of rape follow a similar structure: the god, or man, sees a beautiful woman and fills with love or burning passion, he devises a plan/disguise to rape her, and the significant other learns of the affair and is vengeful. In this essay, I will analyze how two rape stories from Ovid’s Metamorphoses compare with each other while following the structure…

Words 2060 - Pages 9

Women's Responsibility In Ancient Rome

Augustus was best known for his achievements to Rome such as the restoration of the free Republican government, Augustus is also known for his many wives and mistresses whom he had a love/hate relationship. Through Augustus’ own marriages and the treatment of his daughters, audiences can see that marriage is a balance between love and the generation of progeny. His punishment of his own daughter for adultery also underscores the new responsibilities that women as a cornerstone of the family…

Words 1375 - Pages 6

Roman Interpretation Of Ovid's The Art Of Love

384 years later, Ovid’s “The Art of Love” gives us a Roman interpretation of love and the relationships between men and women from around 1 B.C.E. Ovid gives us both sides of the coin: he teaches men how to win over women, and teaches women how to seduce men. Ovid’s advises men to look for women at the theater, race, or the circus, where “the rows force you close, even if you don’t like it.” He also provides instructions on how to be a gentleman: brush the dust off a lady’s robe even if there’s…

Words 236 - Pages 1

Mythology Chapter 9 Essay

Eleusis Her daughter is Persephone Demeter Hestia, The Hearth “hearth” Protectress of the home Few stories about her, soon replaced by Dionysus Aphrodite, Goddess of Sexual Love Goddess of sexual attraction Eros, “sexual desire” (Ares) Connection with Cyprus (Cypris) and Cythera (Cytherea) Aphrodite, Goddess of Sexual Love Temple prostitution in her temples at Corinth and Cythera Sappho celebrated Aphrodite in her poetry. Sappho’s fr. 1 “O deathless Aphrodite, fancy-throned, daughter of Zeus, weaver…

Words 1055 - Pages 5

Classical Mythology Term Paper

poem of Arachne and Minerva written by the Roman poet Ovid is one of excitement and sorrow, not to mention it contains pieces of advice as well as some Greek history. That is why I purpose using this poem and turning it into a mini television series. I’ve listed below the details I both liked and disliked about Ovid’s version of the poem, the changes I purpose making to the poem for the series, how to fill in the information in the poem that Ovid does not mention and who the target audience for the…

Words 2401 - Pages 10

Baroque History Notes Essay

Baroque Art History Notes RELIGION is huge in the Baroque period. *1517 Martin luther walked up to the door of the church and nails a piece of paper, 95 Thesis. It was 95 complaints of the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. He felt that the church had become corrupted by power and greed. Had moved away from the commom man and moved toward the ELITE. Reformation : turned into the Protestant Reformation. Never intended to break away but Martin Luther had to run away…

Words 1775 - Pages 8

Essay Taboo Language

“fututio” is an example of what linguists refer to as a “frequentative” because this word describes repeated action –dropping seeds into a furrow one after another, after another. And soon, the Roman elegiac poets got hold of the word at a time when erotic love poetry was all the rage in Rome. “Fututio” thus became a metaphor for…

Words 3035 - Pages 13

Dantes Inferno Intro Power Point Essay

Beatrice when he was nine and she eight, at his father’s home, most likely for a May Day festival. But Dante’s greatest love, and the greatest single influence on his work, was a woman named Beatrice. Beatrice married another man about 1287, and died in 1290 at the age of 25. BEATRICE •Beatrice was Dante’s angel. He could not touch her, because this was the age of Courtly love. •Dante’s life and work were dedicated to her. •Dante’s muse and inspiration— the female aspect behind the genius. •She…

Words 3578 - Pages 15

The Elizabethan Era's Effect on Shakespeare's Works Essay

The Elizabethan Era's Effect on Shakespeare's Works If every playwright in Shakespeare's time aspired, as he did, to paint a portrait of an age in their works, his would have been the Mona Lisa, leaving the most lasting impression on generations to come and at the same time, one of the world's most baffling mysteries. Surely it is no coincidence that the world's most celebrated dramatist would've lived during the time when one of the world's most powerful rulers in history reigned. Or was it?…

Words 2903 - Pages 12