The Metamorphoses of youth


For the assignment that was given last Wednesday I choose lines from the story of Arachne. My quote from this story is “Not all that old age offers is mere chaff: for one, the years bestow experience. Take my advice: it is enough to be supreme among all mortals when you weave and work your wool, but never do compete with an immortal goddess. Go, beseech Minerva’s for the words you spoke; ask humbly and she will forgive you”. I choose this quote for a couple of reasons. The first being that it is an attempt to give insight to youth about life and life’s metamorphoses. Second I enjoyed its ironic context. What I mean by this is that it is a great example of youth being arrogant and not seeing what is really going in a particular time and situation. Ovid makes this example by having Arachne badmouth the god while she is directly talking to the god and not even realizing it. This quote carries the story of this young wool weaver by showing that are lives are fragile and there are consequences to pay for excluding modesty in life. Old age is simply the metamorphoses of youth through wisdom and experience. Arachne realizes this later in the story when she shows that her skills do rival the great goddess. Her over confidents blinds her and for this she becomes severely punished. Learning through pain and struggle are the ultimate life lessons which is why I choose this to express the metamorphoses of youth