There is certainly much darkness you to definitely clouds the fresh new grand story. Cassiopeia, Andromeda’s mom, was an excellent vain and you may haughty woman which endangers the girl breathtaking, virgin child by the tempting Andromeda so you’re able to exude vanity and you can claim that this woman is alot more breathtaking as compared to naiads. Difficult this new divine hierarchy you might say, Neptune (Poseidon) is actually aggravated and you will enchains Andromeda are taken by sea-beast Cetus. Medusa, the fresh new gorgon which Perseus slays, was also an effective vain girl-a womanly Narcissus-enraptured of the her own beautiful locks. Attracting Neptune, she consummated the sexual lust regarding virgin temple out of Minerva (Athena). This outrages Minerva and results in the girl to show Medusa’s dear prize into a colony regarding disgusting and repulsive snakes.
Even after most of the skullduggery, vanity, and you can impiety which can be interwoven into the facts, it is very important remember that all of those who are metamorphosized is sinners deserving abuse. Medusa should be killed getting, next to the woman mirror, the woman pass regarding a divine forehead. Atlas have to just as end up being turned to stone having their impious affront up against Jupiter. Phineus should be killed to possess their crave to have strong and political hopes and dreams and this wreak havoc while in the a married relationship feast. Even though such changes are caused by just abuse for sin, the brand new metamorphosis out-of Perseus and Andromeda is really what the storyline principally concerns in itself which have.
Perseus is the guy from Jove and therefore a good demi-god, sort of godman who’s region peoples and area divine. It’s, at all, his fides, their believe, that enables your to overcome every beasts and you may obstacles that substitute his means.
Minerva has educated Perseus ideas on how to beat Medusa. Do not consider the lady sight, the latest deity implores the fresh new champion-guy, in advance of providing him a buffer to safeguard himselfing upon a lying Medusa, Perseus uses the new protect-rather than their naked attention-so you can line up the latest culling strike. Just after decapitating the brand new gorgon, the guy towns your mind for the a wallet to store themselves, while others, safe from their astounding efforts and that continue to be even after dying.
As he soars above into the Pegasus, the guy results in this new innocent and beautiful Cassiopeia enchained on the stones. As Ovid tends to make obvious, the lady purity and you can purity consult rescuing, “Truth be told there, simple, from the Jove’s unjust decree / Condemned so you can experience on her mom’s tongue, / Andromeda is actually pinioned into the a stone.” Because Andromeda is free of charge away from one affront, any sin, she can not be punished.
Phineus, Andromeda’s unique potential husband, loves not the girl appeal and you will feminine mystique, however the governmental electric you to definitely she brings-Phineus’ lust for political stamina ‘s the basis out of his relationship that have Andromeda
Exactly what reasons Perseus so you’re able to save this lady? It is evident one Andromeda isn’t worthy of the latest fate to be consumed from the Cetus, but it is maybe not the girl innocence that’s the device away from her deliverance as much as it is Perseus’ like up on viewing their. “Whenever Perseus saw her, got a beneficial wafting snap / Maybe not empowered her tresses, the lady vision not overflowed / Which have moving rips, he previously thought her / An excellent marble statue. Like, ahead of he know, / Kindled; the guy gazed entranced; and you may beat / From the loveliness so exquisite, very rare, / Nearly forgot to help you hover in the air.” It’s like that gives Andromeda off the woman enchainment. Also, and incredibly important, it’s sight away from the lady face, unlike her system, which enables Perseus to identify their since the individual.
As he was an instrument regarding divine wisdom against sinners, he is together with switched as a result of their deeds out-of brave love and you will faith into the gods
The face ‘s the chair of spirit and subjectivity. The human deal with provides liveliness and you can identity towards the inactive, soulless, matter world. This is not incidental, after that, that it is the face and this reveals Andromeda’s charm and you may character. Immediately after turning Cetus into stone, Perseus requests for new fair women’s identity, “Inform you, I ask, your own label which land’s name.” That Perseus asks for the lady title ways their need for their subjectivity, and not this lady carnal charm (even when this is certainly added to the woman subjectivity and soulfulness).