Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
Echo and Narcissus explained
The chapter recounts the myth of Echo, a nymph cursed by Juno to only repeat the last words of others, and her unrequited love for Narcissus, a beautiful youth who cruelly rejects her.
What happens
The chapter recounts the myth of Echo, a nymph cursed by Juno to only repeat the last words of others, and her unrequited love for Narcissus, a beautiful youth who cruelly rejects her. Narcissus then falls in love with his own reflection in a fountain, pines away, and transforms into the narcissus flower. The chapter also includes poetic allusions by Milton, Goldsmith, and Cowper.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Transformation
Echo's unrequited love leads to her physical dissolution into voice, and Narcissus's self-love results in his transformation into a flower, illustrating love's power to change form.
Hubris and Divine Retribution
Narcissus's cruelty and pride in rejecting the nymphs leads to divine punishment through self-love and eventual death.
Characters to notice
- Echo
A beautiful nymph cursed by Juno to only repeat the last words of others; she pines away from unrequited love for Narcissus until only her voice remains.
- Narcissus
A beautiful youth who cruelly rejects Echo and later falls in love with his own reflection, leading to his death and transformation into a flower.
- Juno
The goddess who curses Echo for detaining her with talk, limiting her speech to repetition.
- Diana
Goddess of the hunt, whom Echo attended as a favorite in the chase.
Key passages
“You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me, except for that one purpose you are so fond of— reply . You shall still have the last word, but no power to speak first.”
Juno curses Echo to only repeat the last words spoken by others, taking away her ability to initiate speech.
This curse defines Echo's role in the myth and her tragic inability to express her love directly.
“He fell in love with himself. He brought his lips near to take a kiss; he plunged his arms in to embrace the beloved object. It fled at the touch, but returned again after a moment and renewed the fascination.”
Narcissus becomes enamored with his own reflection, trying to kiss and embrace it, but the image vanishes upon contact only to reappear, deepening his obsession.
This moment captures the central irony of Narcissus's fate: his love is directed at an unattainable illusion.
“He pined away and died; and when his shade passed the Stygian river, it leaned over the boat to catch a look of itself in the waters.”
Narcissus wastes away and dies, and even in death his spirit tries to see its reflection in the river Styx.
This detail emphasizes the persistence of his self-obsession beyond death.