Orpheus and Eurydice (TEXTUAL ANALYSIS)

Orpheus and Eurydice
(Edith Hamilton)
Genre: Tragic Love
Characters:
1. Orpheus
Orpheus is the son of Apollo, the God of Music and Calliope, a muse. He is known to be the greatest
musician in Greek mythology by being able to sway the emotions of all living things by using only his
lyre and voice.
2. Eurydice
Eurydice is the beautiful wife of Orpheus. She is also an oak nymph.
3. Apollo
Known as the God of Music and Dance, God of Sun, God of Poetry
4. Aristaeus
A shepherd who fell in love with Eurydice at first sight
5. Hades
God of the Underworld
6. Persephone
Wife of Hades, Goddess of Spring
7. Calliope
A muse and Orpheus' mother
8. Hymen
God of marriage ceremonies
9. Tantalus
A mythological character who was punished in Tartarus by standing by the lake and a fruit tree but
his thirst and hunger never satisfied
10. Ixion
A mythological character who was punished by Zeus to be tied in a never-ending fiery wheel
because of his attempt of seducing Hera
11. the daughters of Danaus
The daughters of Danaus killed their husbands the first night they got married to them. As
punishment in Tartarus, they were cursed to fill a tub with water. However, the tub was leaking and
so their punishment was everlasting
12. Sisyphus
Sisyphus punishment in the underworld was to push a boulder up an endless mountain
Setting: The Underworld

Theme: When Eurydice dies, Orpheus mourns for her. His true love is now gone, but the power of
death was not as strong as his love. He bends the will of Hades, and he goes down into the
underworld to get her. Hence, one theme is the power of love; love is stronger than death itself.
Summary:
Orpheus, son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope, grows up in Thrace, a land long noted for the
purity and richness of its divine gift of song. His father presents him with a lyre and teaches him to
play it. So lovely are the songs of Orpheus that the wild beasts follow him when he plays, and even
the trees, the rocks, and the hills gather near him. It is said his music softens the composition of
stones. Orpheus charms Eurydice with his music, but Hymen brings no happy omens to their
wedding. His torch smokes so that tears come to their eyes. Passionately in love with his wife,
Orpheus becomes mad with grief when Eurydice dies. Fleeing from a shepherd who desires her, she
steps upon a snake and dies from its bite. Heartbroken, Orpheus wanders over the hills composing
and singing melancholy songs of memory for the lost Eurydice. Finally he descends into the
Underworld and makes his way past the sentries by means of his music. Approaching the throne of
Proserpine and Hades, he sings a lovely song in which he says that love brings him to the
Underworld. He complains that Eurydice was taken from him before her time and if they will not
release her, he will not leave Hades. Proserpine and Hades cannot resist his pleas. They agree to set
Eurydice free if Orpheus will promise not to look upon her until they safely reach the Upperworld.
Body:
Orpheus and Eurydice get married, but later that night, Eurydice is bit by a snake and dies.
So far, so terrible. Overcome with grief, Orpheus travels to the Underworld to bring her back to life.
He convinces Hades and Persephone to let Eurydice go, but her release comes with a catch:
Eurydice must walk behind him as they ascend to the upper world, and Orpheus is forbidden from
looking at her. Seems easy enough, right? Unfortunately, Orpheus is overcome with passion just as
they reach the exit. He turns to look at Eurydice and she is immediately sent back to the
Underworld – forever. Orpheus is devastated (again) and roams around Greece playing sad songs.
Eventually, he is ripped to shreds by a group of drunken mad women. This text is worth reading
because this is one of the great tragic love stories from Greek mythology, the tale of the musician
Orpheus and his wife Eurydice features love, death, poetry, and the afterlife. But as with the tale of
Echo and Narcissus, this is a doomed love story made more famous through Roman writers (Ovid,
Virgil) than Greek originals.

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Orpheus and Eurydice (TEXTUAL ANALYSIS)

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Orpheus and Eurydice

Genre: Tragic Love

Setting: The Underworld

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