Echo and Narcissus Myth

Echo and Narcissus Myth Movie and Story for Latin 2 12/10/2005

Movie

Ok. This was a long time ago (9th Grade! It sucks because it was before I was brave enough to do live action and smart enough not to spend hours in Photoshop doing crappy cut outs and animation. Now, I've got a refined design sense and will do live action. Check up my recent Latin Fable which is much better (and only done 15 months after this one).

Story

A PDF version of this work is available here: Image:Echo and Narcissus Myth Handout.pdf

When Zeus came to the mountains, the wood nymphs rushed to embrace the jovial god. They played with him in icy waterfalls and laughed with him in lush green glades.

Zeus’ wife, Hera, was very jealous, and often she searched the mountainside, trying to catch her husband with the nymphs. But whenever Hera came close to finding Zeus, a charming nymph named Echo stepped across her path. Echo chatted with Hera in a lively fashion and did whatever she could to stall the goddess until Zeus and the other nymphs had escaped.

Eventually Hera discovered that Echo had been tricking her, and she flew into a rage. “Your tongue has made a fool of me!” she shouted at Echo. “Henceforth, your voice will be more brief, my dear! You will always have the last word - but never the first. From that day on, poor Echo could only repeat the last words of what others said.

At the same time, a golden-haired youth was hunting deer in the woods. The boy’s name was Narcissus, and he was the most beautiful young man in the forest. All who looked upon Narcissus fell in love with him immediately. But he would have nothing to do with anyone, for he was very conceited. One person loved him above all of the others. Ameinias could not resist Narcissus, so Narcissus gave him a sword and told him to prove his love. Ameinias plunged the sword into his heart, but not before pleading with the gods to punish Narcissus. The gods decreed that Narcissus could only love what was unattainable.

One day, Echo caught sight of Narcissus, and her heart burned like the flame of a torch. She secretly followed him through the woods, loving him more with each step. She got closer and closer until finally Narcissus heard the leaves rustling. He whirled around and cried out, “Who’s here?” From behind a tree, Echo repeated his last word, “Here!”

Narcissus looked about in wonder, “Who are you? Come to me!” he said.

Narcissus searched the woods, but could not find the nymph. “Stop hiding! Why do you shun me!” he shouted.

“Why do you shun me?” Echo cried. Then she stepped from behind the tree and rushed to embrace Narcissus.

But the youth panicked when the nymph flung her arms around his neck. He pushed her away and shouted, “Leave me alone! I’d rather die than you should have me!”

“Have me!” was all poor Echo could say as she watched Narcissus run from her through the woods. “Have me! Have me! Have me!” Humiliated and filled with sorrow, Echo found a cave to live in and is still replying to all who call to her. Echo! Echo! Echo! Echo!

Meanwhile Narcissus hunted in the woods, tending only to himself, until one day he discovered a hidden silvery-smooth pool of water. No one ever disturbed its waters; only the sun dances upon the still pond.

Tired from hunting and eager to quench his thirst, Narcissus lay on his stomach and leaned over the water. But when he looked at the glassy surface, he saw someone staring back at him. Narcissus was instantly spellbound. Gazing up at him from the pool were eyes like twin stars, framed by hair as golden as Apollo’s and cheeks as smooth as ivory. But when he leaned down and tried to kiss the perfect lips, he kissed only spring water. When he reached out and tried to embrace this vision of beauty, the water rippled and the face disappeared.

“Stay I entreat you!” he cried. “Let me at least gaze upon you, if I may not have you!” Day after day, Narcissus stared at the water, in love with his own reflection. He began to waste away from grief. Slowly he began to turn into a flower.