The Story of Baucis and Philemon
Ovid is an extremely detailed writer, enabling the reader to envision what is written. Each story that Ovid writes seems to convey a deeper message, making Ovid’s writing even more appealing to the reader. Specifically, the myth that touched me the most was The Story of Baucis and Philemon. Its powerful content, coupled with its unique style, makes it a memorable poem in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. There is a specific writing style which keeps the reader interested in reading the poem itself.
Ovid’s main message in the poem, which struck me most, was Ovid’s emphasis on the importance of hospitality to one’s neighbor. Despite their lack of money, Baucis and Philemon offered their guests only the very best they had. Baucis and Philemon undoubtedly made every effort to be hospitable to their guests, truly making them feel comfortable as though the guests were in their own home. To highlight the extent of their hospitality, Ovid goes into great detail about the set up of the dinner table and meal preparation. In doing so, the reader is able to experience for himself the time and effort that Baucis and Philemon put in to satisfy their guests.
For example, Ovid informs the reader of such minute details such as the fact that Philemon pulled out a couch for the Gods to sit on while Baucis warmed up the fire to cook. Likewise, Ovid goes into great detail of the hard work Baucis put in for the meal preparation and the meal itself. “ One table-leg was wobbly; a piece of shell fixed that. She scoured the table, Made level now, with a handful of green mint, Put on the olives, black or green, and cherries Preserved in dregs of wine, endive and radish, And cottage cheese, and eggs, turned over lightly In the warm ash with shells unbroken (202).” Ovid continues in depth description of the meal preparation. one can really envision the task at hand. He portrays to the reader through words how much effort was going into this “feast” worth of food.
In particular, I thought it was very interesting how Ovid really portrayed classes in the poem. In fact, contrary to expectations, the hosts – Baucis and Philemon – were of the lowest class. They had no money, and were living a lowly life. The guests, on the other hand, were the Gods. As Gods, they were of the highest status, assumed to have all that they needed. However, in giving us this story in which the Gods relied on Baucis and Philemon for support, Ovid seems to be relaying a life-message to his readers. There is more to life than mere social status and wealth. As can be learned from this situation, financial difficulties do not stop Baucis and Philemon from enjoying life to the fullest. The most important thing that mattered to them was that they had each other, and by showing this important life-lesson, Ovid portrays to us a sense of love and devotion to another person.
The myth starts out when Jupiter and Mercury transform themselves into mortal men looking for a place to stay for the night. They knocked on many doors and had those same doors slammed on their faces. After many houses were tried the Gods were about ready to give up in disappointment. They decided to try one more door before they gave up. The Gods knocked on the house of an old poor couple in an old cottage. The old couple, Baucis and Philemon, opened their door to the gods (the mortal men) and invited them to stay for the night. When the gods walked inside they saw that this was a very poor house but the hosts, Baucis and Philemon, didn’t mind it at all. They grew old together and “faced their poverty with cheerful spirits (201).” I believe here that Ovid shows us a lovely sense of delicacy showing the reader how the main characters made a sad situation into a cheerful one.
The food was greatly appreciated by the Gods. The Gods were performing miracles at the dinner table. “The mixing-bowl, as often as it was drained, kept filling up all by itself, and the wine was never lower (202).” The hosts picked this up and were scared by them when they saw these miracles happening. The hosts thought that the men (now gods to them) didn’t like the meal or there wasn’t enough preparation. They fear and try to kill their only goose they had to make their offering better. The gods cried out and told the hosts don’t kill the goose! “This wicked Neighborhood Will pay as it deserves to; do not worry, you will not be hurt, but leave this house (203).”
The gods tell the old couple to climb a mountain. Once they reached the top of the mountain they were surprised to see that their whole village had been destroyed by water except for their cottage. They were stunned in disbelief. “ And while they wondered and wept a little for their neighbors’ trouble, the house they used to live in, the poor quarters Small for the two of them, became a temple (203).” Via metaphor, Ovid is conveying the life lesson “what you give is what you get.” Even though Baucis and Philemon didn’t know they were helping the gods, they still helped them, even though they were poor. And sure enough the gods knew this and rewarded Baucis and Philemon for their good sense of heart. The Gods granted Baucis and Philemon with any wish they wanted. The couple wanted time to think of what wish they wanted.
The couple made a humble decision and request from the Gods to be their priest and guard the temple that the Gods had created for them. They also wanted to die together. After the couple requested these things the Gods granted them their wish. As the host grew older “Each saw the other put forth leave, Philemon Watched Baucis changing, Baucis watched Philemon, And as the foliage spread, they had time To say ‘Farewell, my dear!’ and the bark closed over Sealing their mouths (203).” The couple “died” in harmony and turned into trees. The fact that Baucis and Philemon turned into trees is characteristic of Ovid’s writing style. Ovid shows many times throughout Metamorphoses the transformation of humans into trees. When Ovid writes about transformation into trees he conveys to the reader his earthiness. I believe Ovid writes that the main characters were turned into trees specifically for this reason: trees live for a very long time and so do the acts of Baucis and Philemon, being hospitable to thy guest.
The story ends and everyone is moved by the story especially Thesus. Lelex says that “The gods look after Good people still, and cherishers are cherished (204).” I take away a lot from that. That saying makes me happy and pretty much wraps up the story. It conveys Ovid’s message to his audience. There is a metamorphosis, a change. We see a progression, an upward progression, going from poor to wealth. Ovid shows us that just because you’re poor does not mean you will stay poor forever there is a chance you can move up in life. The way you could move up in life is that you have to be kind and hospitable and by doing all these things you will be rewarded at some point in life.