Ovid’s Metamorphoses #073/111: TRIGGER WARNING: “Thetis and Peleus”

What this project is about.  

This one is from Book 11.

This is thoroughly objectionable shit.  TW for sexual assault.

How long it took to read this (aloud): 2 mins 59s

What it’s “about”: Jove keeps his dick in his whatever-gods-wear for once, but not because he has any respect for anyone. So he gets his grandson to do the deed, which is only accomplished after some advice from Proteus. Yikes. That’s where Achilles comes from.

Words I didn’t know: xx

Quotable quotes:

Though Jove still felt 

Blood stirring in his veins for love of Thetis 

He stayed away from her, fearing that a son 

Who had more brilliance on earth than he 

Would rival him or make his godship fail.

 AND

There, as she slept, young Peleus came at her, 

And tried to force his way with arms around her — 

For if she had not taken other forms, 

He would have found his rest on her at once. 

One moment, so it seemed, he held a bird, 

The next, a green ash tree, the next, a leopard 

(This last was tenor breaking through desire) 

Which he let go

AND

Then he saw Proteus rise upon the sea 

And heard him say, “O son of Aeacus, go make 

A net to trap your sleeping bnde, her dreams transform her, 

But if you bind her you may he upon her.” 

So Proteus spoke, and as he vanished, waters 

Rose where he stood, and closed above his voice.

AND

she changed, or tried to change, 

Yet she was open to him, limbs bound fast. 

At last she moaned, “Some god made you undo me.” 

Then she gave way and Peleus held his Thetis, 

And got his son on her, the great Achilles.

How it lands to my eco-sensibility: xx

Obvious allusions, ways it was used (that I am aware of already) : xx

What I know I didn’t ‘get’: xx

To my knowledge, who’s used it why/how (RACC): xx

Further research questions: xx

Anything else: xx