The Messed Up Origins™ of Narcissus | Mythology Explained - Jon Solo
Jon Solo・17 minutes read
Narcissus's obsession with his reflection leads to his demise, with various versions of his myth depicting different endings, including suicide and transformation into a flower. The term "narcissist" originated from Narcissus, describing individuals with egotistical and self-absorbed traits.
Insights
- Narcissus's obsession with his own reflection led to his downfall, ultimately resulting in his transformation into the narcissus flower, symbolizing self-love turning destructive.
- The myth of Narcissus has influenced modern psychology, with the term "narcissist" originating from his story, highlighting traits of extreme self-centeredness and arrogance that were identified as a disorder in 1898.
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Recent questions
Who is Narcissus in mythology?
Narcissus is a character known for his obsession with his own reflection.
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Summary
00:00
Narcissus: Myth of Self-Obsession and Tragic Love
- Narcissus is portrayed as the biggest douche in mythology due to his obsession with his own reflection.
- The myth of Narcissus involves him falling in love with his reflection and being unable to tear his eyes away from it.
- Echo, a nymph, falls in love with Narcissus but can only repeat the last few words spoken to her due to a curse from Hera.
- Narcissus rejects Echo, leading her to waste away until only her bones and voice remain in the forest.
- Narcissus, exhausted from hunting, sees his reflection in a fountain and falls in love with himself.
- Unable to embrace his reflection, Narcissus realizes his love can never be reciprocated, leading to his physical form melting away.
- Narcissus transforms into a gold and white flower known as the narcissus.
- Echo, forced to watch Narcissus's demise, repeats his last words, "Farewell," as he burns alive.
- Various versions of the Narcissus myth exist, with differences in the ending, including implied suicide or inner flame consuming Narcissus.
- In one version, Ameinias, a man rejected by Narcissus, commits suicide with a sword given to him by Narcissus, leading to Narcissus's own demise.
11:07
Ovid's Narcissus: Tragic Love and Ego
- Ovid rewrote the story of Narcissus falling in love with his twin sister instead of himself, finding the original version ridiculous.
- In Ovid's version, Narcissus and his sister were nearly identical, best friends, and hunted together, with the sister dying tragically while hunting.
- Narcissus, devastated by his sister's death, visited a spring daily to gaze at his reflection, reminiscent of her, eventually leading to his own demise.
- The myth of Narcissus ends in suicide, with a narcissus flower sprouting from his blood, linking the flower's name to the character.
- The term "narcissist" originated from Narcissus, describing someone egotistical, with the disorder identified in 1898, showcasing specific traits like arrogance and self-absorption.
