The Metamorphosis of Narcissus: Essay Outline 1. Introduction
Thesis: In his painting, the Metamorphosis of Narcissus, artist Salvador Dali uses metaphor, juxtaposition, and symbolism to reveal the reason behind, contrast between, and implements of Narcissus’s transformation from life to death.

2. Body Paragraph #1
Metaphor
a. Example: The group of dancing women embodies the idea of contentment.
Significance: Despite the fact that the women are most likely the rejected lovers of Narcissus, they are dancing with joy because they have each other. The loss of Narcissus’s beauty has little effect on their overall happiness, since companionship is more valuable than beauty. b. Example: Narcissus’s loneliness is comparable to the remaining chess piece.
Significance: Narcissus’s divine, greatly sought after beauty, ironically, has made him dissatisfied with life. As a result of his self-love and selective attitude towards possible suitors, he has ostracized himself from all others, which causes him extreme emotional pain. c. Example: The hidden statue is a metaphor to Narcissus’s inevitable fate.
Significance: Just as the statue is difficult to see behind the mountain tops, Narcissus is unable to see his destiny, which is to die. Although it is difficult to detect, the constant presence of his pre-determined future is undeniable.

3. Body Paragraph #2
Juxtaposition
d. Example: The figure of the living man contrasts sharply with the stone hand.
Significance: This is the most explicit reference of the stark difference between the world in which Narcissus is alive and the realm after his death. Obviously, the living man, colored in warm reds and yellows, depicts a living Narcissus, full of emotion and vibrancy. On the other hand, the stone hand, colored in cold greys and silvers, indicates the eerie silence of his demise. e. Example: The burning fire by the living man has become an extinguished fire.
Significance: On the left side of the painting, Narcissus is alive and accompanied by an intense and brightly colored fire. But, on the right, the once powerful flames have been diminished to dark ashes through death. The fire can be used to measure the status of Narcissus’ existence. f. Example: The background on the left encompasses a smooth cliff-side, while the right features jagged mountains.
Significance: The jagged mountains display a menacing atmosphere behind the stone hand of death. On the contrary, the smooth cliff side appears less threatening in the backdrop of the living man.

4. Body Paragraph #3
Symbolism
g. Example: The dog eating Narcissus’s remains shows the possible vengeance of the rejected lovers.
Significance: The ugly and vicious dog symbolizes the unworthy suitors of Narcissus. Just as the dog disrespectfully feeds on Narcissus’s carcass, the unattractive people are dominant over Narcissus, since Narcissus’s own beauty ultimately lead to his destruction. h. Example: The ants crawling near the stone hand represent decay.
Significance: Ants literally have to ability to decompose objects, which suggests that they have also participated in eating away Narcissus’s body. They contribute to the gloomy mood and overall loss of beauty in the world after Narcissus’s demise. i. Example: The egg and flower stand for rebirth and preservation.
Significance: Although Narcissus’s death was tragic, the egg and flower provide a sense of hope and beauty in a world without a living Narcissus. The Narcissus flower, which is known in myth as the only remaining aspects of Narcissus’s physical attractiveness, is being born from an egg, which is commonly known as a source of potential life and growth.

5. Conclusion
All in all, Dali’s surrealistic painting is a memorable and powerful adaptation of Narcissus’s transformation from life and death. In fact, the painting can be divided into three clear sections, the first depicting the reason for Narcissus’s demise, the second showing Narcissus shortly before his death, and the third revealing the consequences of his loss. As one navigates through the work, one should view the scenes from the perspective of not only Narcissus, but also his rejected lovers. The viewer experiences Narcissus’s feeling of isolation as well as the role that other characters play before and after Narcissus’s infamous drowning. Overall, The Metamorphosis of Narcissus shows both the damaging result of self-love and the eventual revenge of unwanted suitors.