"The Story of Pyramus and Thisbe" Continued

John William Waterhouse's (1849 - 1917) work, Thisbe (http://cgfa.acropolisinc.com/waterhou/p-waterh23.htm) painted in 1909, is a "genre painting," meaning it tells a story. That story is taken from a particular moment in Ovid's poem with some embellishments by Waterhouse.

Thisbe has apparently just gotten up from her loom because she's heard Pyramus at the chink. She has her ear to it and is concentrating on his words so that she seems to have forgotten about her work. Perhaps this is the moment when they are making plans to run away. The tile on the floor is very decorative as are some of the designs on the wall. Thisbe's gown has patterns of Egyptian lotuses and the stool at her feet contains Egyptian motifs. Her face is turned toward the viewer but all of her energy seems concentrated on listening. What does the look on her face reveal? It's not joyful. It seems to be a look of desperate determination.

The tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe at the end of Midsummer Night's Dream is presented as a burlesque which seems to mock the tragic lovers. In part this is because of the poor acting abilities of Bottom and company. It seems to me that the story is used to rephrase what could have happened to Hermia and Lysander had it not been for the magic of the fairies and Puck. Unlike the situation in Romeo and Juliet (which scholars have concluded was probably written just prior to Midsummer Night's Dream), the parental power which forbids the love has been ignored and a tragedy averted.

That may be the moral in Ovid's tale. His line, "You know how fire suppressed burns all the fiercer," shows great understanding of human motivations. The parents have forbidden the relationship thereby inciting rebellion. The suppressed lovers feel that their love is even greater because unattainable. In the end Ovid has the parents putting the lovers' ashes "in a common urn" there to "rest" for eternity apparently.  The parents were "touched" but too late. Moral: Wield authority wisely.

Next: "Apollo and Daphne" in Book One of Metamorphoses.