Ryan Roberts - The Tale of Narcissus

     It was just after I finished writing my previous blog post that I got an idea for another blog post. I was reading Narcissus and Goldmund, and I really wanted to talk about the actual Narcissus. His story is actually one that I really enjoy, not only for the plot, but also for the funny story which led his name to be used in a very well known personality disorder.

    Narcissus' story actually has multiple variations, but most agree that he was born the most beautiful boy in the world. His parents visited a seer who said that he would live a long life if he never came to "know himself". Fast forward a few years and Narcissus' beauty only became better with each passing day. His suitors also became large in number and persistent in advancements. Of course, being a 16 year old boy who doesn't know how to tie his own sandals, he rejected all of them.

    One day, he decided to go hunting in the woods. There, an nymph called Echo sees him and instantly falls in love (as you do). She calls him over and tries to embrace him, Narcissus rejecting her just as quickly while pushing her off of him. Echo cries out in the pan of rejection (girlie, the crush lasted five minutes, what the f-), the goddess Nemesis hears her, and decides to punish Narcissus because he has rejected so many others and kept that beautiful booty all to himself.

She curses him to fall in love with his reflection. From here, the story tends to vary. In most stories, he sees his reflection and is distraught that he can't touch the man who so very clearly loves him back (leaning in to kiss him when he does). He either falls in and drowns, wastes away by the water, leaving behind a narcissus flower, or his passion literally sets him on fire where he once again leaves behind a single narcissus flower (dude... it's not that serious). 

    But as a psychology student, I always found it funny that Narcissistic personality disorder was named after this guy. I mean, I understand it logistically. Narcissism characterizes itself with a heavily inflated ego and a dash of missing empathy, which Narcissus does exhibit when he's cursed, but by all accounts, he was just the victim in a game that was rigged against him. 

    I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that having hundreds of suitors hound you for attention when you reciprocate nothing is quite uncomfortable. Yes, he is beautiful, but it's time to learn that it's never going to happen sweetie. And him rejecting Echo wasn't "cruel". She threw herself at him and expected him to catch her, acting like her life-long crush just ripped out her heart and stomped on it. I get that Gods/Immortals don't really get boundaries, but punishing him for saying, "I just met you... I'm good." is so wild to me. 

Anyway, that's it. Have a wonderful day! ♥

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