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Causes of Metamorphosis in Ovid

by Spencer Scorcelletti

Commentary #8 ()

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Cause Definition Example
Punishment A god changes someone for an offence — real, imagined, or someone else's. Lycaön to a wolf (1.236); Actaeon to a stag (3.194).
Escape The change rescues its subject from pursuit, usually at their own plea. Daphne to a laurel (1.548); the crow, fleeing Neptune (2.581).
Concealment A god hides his own doing by changing its victim. Io to a cow (1.611).
Grief Mourning itself works the change; often no god is involved at all. The Heliads to poplars (2.363); Echo to a voice (3.398).
Pity A death is answered with a form that outlasts it. The narcissus in place of the boy (3.510).
Reward The subject is raised — to the stars, or to godhead. Callisto and Arcas made stars (2.507); Io worshipped as a goddess (1.747).
Retaliation The change answers a blow struck at something sacred. Tiresias made a woman for striking the serpents (3.326).
Disguise A god assumes a form and will shed it again: voluntary, and reversible. Jupiter as a bull (2.850); Juno as the nurse Beroë (3.278).
Creation Something is made from inert matter. Men from stones (1.401); soldiers from the dragon's teeth (3.107).
Reversal An earlier change is undone. Io restored (1.738); Tiresias made a man again (3.331).

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