Ovid's Variations on Achilles in the Metamorphoses

In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Achilles' function, in a way, is to set up a common element for all the episodes of the Trojan War that are narrated or alluded to. He embodies in the most emblematic way the protagonist of epic poetry, a character that is a symbol for the heroic epos. The episodes which concern him are discussed, in order to demonstrate that the hasty and simplistic portrayal of him that has been given by many critics is inappropriate, and we should avoid defining, him as a merely negative figure. Actually, the structure of the narration should be perceived as a series of independent scenes. Unity is given by the constantly recurring theme of fame, of glory, which ultimately moulds life. Hence the absolutely decisive role of the poet who creates this reality

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