Reading Notes: Anthology

I throughly enjoyed all the readings in the Anthology this week and I liked how there were many different types and genres of stories to choose from. Further, the two stories that really stuck out to me were Metamorphosis: Pygmalion and Fairy Tale: Beauty and the Basilisk.

Reading Notes for Metamorphosis: Pygmalion

Pygmalion, the main character, seemed to not be able to meet a woman that he felt would meet his standards and make him truly happy. As a result, he makes a statue of his ideal woman out of snow white ivory – which to me represents purity. He becomes delusional and obsessed with his creation and treats the statue as if it were a real person. For example, he kisses it, brings it gifts, and dresses it in clothes and jewelry. At the Venus festival Pygmalion gives his offering and asks the gods to grant him a girl like his ivory statue. A flame flares three times and his request was granted by the goddess Venus. Pygmalion's ivory statue had came alive and they get married, which Venus attends. I like how at the end, the story gives an interesting fact about how the name of Pygmalion and his brides son is also the name of the island they live on. 

 Pygmalion et Galatée by Anne-Louis Girodet

Reading Notes for Fairy Tale: Beauty and the Basilisk

This story begins with the author introducing three characters. Three daughters. Two of the daughters seem to be very high maintenance and materialistic. While the third daughter, Mary, is more down to earth. Their mother goes into town, and of course the two materialistic daughters ask for a ridiculous amount of goods, while Mary does not ask for anything, and instead just requests three roses if her mother has time. Their mother takes three roses from a palace, which is inhabited by a basilisk that tells the mother she has to bring her daughter to him for taking the roses. I think it’s interesting how the number three keeps reoccurring throughout this story. For example, there are three daughters, the mother takes three roses, Mary must nurse the basilisk for three hours a day and on the third day Mary must cut off the Basilisks head in order to deliver the handsome young man.