Imaginary Life-Motifs Essay Example
Imaginary Life-Motifs Essay Example

Imaginary Life-Motifs Essay Example

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Both Ovid and the child undergo significant changes when introduced to new environments. Ovid, previously a typical Roman in society, was exiled to the Getae tribe where he became an outsider. Similarly, the child goes through a transformation when navigating unfamiliar surroundings.

Upon being brought to an unfamiliar setting, he finds himself compelled to conform to the lifestyle and demeanor of an average youth. The commonalities between him and this other youngster invite insights into his identity and origins. Not only does this child symbolize Ovid, but also Ovid's adolescence. As with Ovid, the child instantly stands out as a stranger among the tribe.

Previously, he resided with wolves in the wild and depended on himself. But his circumstances altered when he was welcomed into the Getae group. In one instance during the onset of winter, the youngster sle

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pt outside with no attire and did not shiver. This is due to adjusting to the weather during his time in the wild.

Following a period of warmth and comfort, the child's resistance to the cold dissipated. Subsequently, the child experienced significant transformations. Once introduced to the Getae tribe, the child fell ill with a dangerous affliction, ascribed by many to possession by malevolent spirits. This pernicious metamorphosis ultimately spread to other members of the tribe, including its chief. Ovid recounts the child's metamorphosis on page 127: "all his limbs straining against the breaking out through him of whatever beast it is that is coming to birth in him." The abrupt alteration of environment was the sole cause of this transformation.

The story delves into the physical and spiritual voyages of Ovid and a child, whether together or separate. When

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Ovid was young, he saw the child but no one else could. The child later appears as an actual person during a time of confusion and trouble for Ovid. Some speculate that this only happens when there is hardship. It is worth noting that the child becomes "actual" in Ovid's exile period when guidance is most needed. Nevertheless, it seems like the child remains with Ovid throughout his life span from birth till almost his end.

Within this context, the child symbolizes a portion of Ovid's own being that captivates him with the notion of instructing such a child about his personal way of life, namely, language. Through this process, the child imparts knowledge to Ovid and ultimately aids him in gaining deeper comprehension and inner peace. This experience is interconnected with Ovid's spiritual expedition as he crosses over the river Ister, signifying the limits of our existence, on his path towards eventual demise.

The passing of Ovid is not presented as a sorrowful occurrence; rather, it is depicted as his liberation from the restrictions of the world into his own transcendence. In his final moments, Ovid merges with Mother Earth, just like a child does. The child himself, who guides Ovid away from his secure position within the Getae tribe, is the one responsible for leading him on this journey. Thus, the child embodies both Ovid's fate and the guiding force behind his pursuit of complete autonomy and liberation from reality. The theme of rebirth is also a recurring motif in this novel.

By embodying Ovid's childhood, the child is essentially a rejuvenated version of Ovid in his youth, emphasizing their parallel transformations and journeys towards regeneration.

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