orpheus & eurydice

Orpheus & Eurydice

The Tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice

Orpheus was the son of Oeagrus, a Thracianking, and the muse Calliope. He was trainedon the lyre by Apollo, and soon his music wasas beautiful and magical as that of his teacher.

Orpheus’ music tamed wild animals, and eventrees and mountains would creep closer tohear him play.

Orpheus married Eurydice, but their happinesswas short-lived. The bride stepped intoa nest of snakes and was bitten. She quicklydied from her wounds.

According to the poet Virgil, Orpheusmourned Eurydice so deeply, and playedsongs so sad, that all of the nymphs and godswept.

They convinced him to descend to theUnderworld, to fetch back his bride.

He traveled over the river Styx, to the verythrone room of Hades and Persephone. Therehe made his appeal singing the most beautifulsong ever heard:

“I came for my wife’s sake, whose growingyears were taken by a snake’s venom. Iwanted to be able to bear this; I have tried to. Love has conquered…If fate denies us thisprivilege for my wife, one thing is certain: Ido not want to go back either; triumph in thedeath of two.”

Orpheus’ playing was so beautiful, everythingstopped. Sisyphus sat down atop hisboulder, and Tantalus gave up trying to reach the water.

Hades and Persephone were so moved, they called for Eurydice.

They told Orpheus that he could takeEurydice, still limping from her wound, but

hemust not look back at her until they hadreached the upper world.

As they neared the upper world, Orpheusbecame more and more anxious to beholdEurydice. Knowing he could not, he felt thathe had to look back. When he felt Eurydicestumble behind him, his resolve crumbled andhe turned to steady her.

As he turned, Eurydicefaded back into thedepths of Hades,reaching out her armsfor him even as she dieda second time.

“Dying a second time, shecomplained not of herhusband, for why shouldshe complain of beingbeloved? “

Orpheus begged to be allowed to cross theriver once more, but Charon drove him away.

For seven days, Orpheus sat by the bank ofthe river crying for his wife.

He never loved another woman.

• Orpheus and Eurydice is a story of unfailing love.

• Unlike many other stories in Ovid, the character’s downfall doesn’t come about because of his shortcomings, but rather because of his love and passion.

• This destruction through the best of man adds to the tragedy.

Why Does It Move Us?