Summary:
Ovid's poetry collection of Metamorphoses is the story of Acis, Galatea and Polyphemus. It answers why the Cyclops is a cowardly, resentful beast, and not a hero.
Galatea and Polyphemus: Beauty and the Beast
In Ovid's collection of Metamorphoses, he writes a poem of the story of Acis, Galatea and Polyphemus. The story is told by Galatea, a sea nymph, for it is about her and her lovers encounter with the terrible Cyclops, Polyphemus. At the end of her tale, Polyphemus is overcome by his raging jealousy, and violently kills Acis. This action shows how cruel the Cyclops is, and shows that he is not a hero in this poem. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the definition of a hero is "a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability," "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities" and "one that shows great courage." Throughout the poem, Ovid proves that Polyphemus is not worthy of the title.....
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