Introduction
It is impossible to reject that changes surround people’s life. From birth till death people are changing and this process is fully reflected in Ovid’s masterpiece The Metamorphoses. Reading the book, it is impossible not to notice that beauty and not to understand the main idea of the work, changes. The very title of the book tells us that it is devoted to changes. The first three chapters must be devoted to the Earth creation, people’s and Gods’ changes, as well as the changes of world understanding; the reader is allowed to see the beauty of metamorphoses of the world from different perspectives and being the art in general, the work inspirited many artists on the creation of their own masterpieces.
Metamorphoses in the Book
Reading the first lines of the book, it is possible to predict what will be discussed in the whole work.
Now I shall tell the of things that change, new being
Out of old: since you, O Gods, crated
Mutable arts and gifts, give me the voice
To tell the shifting story of the world
From its beginning to the present hour (Ovid 31).
The book begins with the Chaos change, when the land was separated from water and sky. Is not it the greatest change? It surely is. Reading the book, it is crucial to notice that all situations in history are changes: years pass by, people become different and the world changes as well. It was rather interesting to read about the metamorphoses of Gods’ shape: having decided to become people they appeared in mortal forms.
The metamorphoses in the book are known for people from their childhood, as most situations described there are taken either from mythology or Bible. Gods and the Creator are mixed in the description, so it may be concluded that the author wanted to describe the change of people’s thinking.
Art in The Metamorphoses
From the very beginning, the author tells us that all changes that occurred in the history of mankind may be related to art. World creation and other situations in the book are life situations, and life is an art. Making such a conclusion, it is possible to prove it. All situations described in the book are very impressive and emotional. Many artists in the world were inspired by The Metamorphoses and created a number of paintings that are considered to be masterpieces; only art can inspire. It is significant to notice that not the book influenced them but the very actions, changes that were described by Ovid. Love is an art and this theme is also touched in the book. People usually understand art as a unique and emotional piece of work. Taking world creation, love, and other notions described in Ovid’s work it may be concluded that he depicted real pieces of art in his book and gave them to people for judgment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, only art may inspire; and the changes described in The Metamorphoses by Ovid can stimulate imagination. The book is devoted to changes that occurred in people’s history. Moreover, the very history is a change that, in its turn, is an art. World creation, flood, Gods’ metamorphoses, love, and other notions described in the book are pieces of art as they are emotional, striking and unique. Finally, being the object for inspiration, The Metamorphoses helped some artists to create their masterpieces. Is not it an art?
Works Cited
Ovid. The Metamorphoses. New York: Signet Classic, 2001. Print.