Question

There was once a youth named Narkissos who hailed from Thespiae in a land called Boeotia. He was reported to be the most handsome man in all history. Women were so taken by his beauty that they threw themselves at him and sought to marry him. But Narkissos was known for being notoriously cruel to the women who loved him. He ignored their affections and cast them away harshly without kindness or politeness.

One day, the nymph Echo saw Narkissos walking through the woods, and she fell completely in love with him. She followed him, hoping to speak to him, but Echo was cursed. She could not speak first without being spoken to and, then, she could only repeat what was said to her. So Echo followed Narkissos through the woods, and when the youth heard footsteps behind him, he turned and asked, "Who is there?" Echo responded, as she only could repeat what was said, "Who is there?" Narkissos turned and continued walking. After a while, Echo grew tired of following Narkissos and rushed to embrace him. As Narkissos had always done before, he pushed her away and refused to return her affections.
Echo was heartbroken and fled into the woods to wander until she wasted away.
Nemesis, the goddess of revenge, heard the tale of what happened to Echo, and she decided to punish Narkissos. She cast a spell and forced the youth to fall in love with himself. As Narkissos was wandering through the woods, he caught sight of his own reflection in the pond. He was so in love with his own face that he could not look away, and so he sat there on the bank of the pond. He could not turn away. Eventually, he died because he could do nothing else but stare at his own beauty. The goddess Hera took pity on him and turned him into a water lily so that he could lean over the water and see his reflection forever.

Which theme is evident in the passage?
A. Heartbroken people need supportive friends.
B. It is easier to be successful if you are beautiful.
C. Caring most about yourself can isolate you from others.
D. Upsetting others repeatedly is unavoidable.

Answer 1

The evident theme in the story of Narkissos is the consequences of self-absorption and the dangers of narcissism, highlighted by his inability to connect with others and the resultant isolation leading to his demise.

Step-by-step explanation:

The theme evident in the passage about Narkissos and Echo is a warning against the perils of self-absorption. Narkissos, known for his extraordinary beauty and cruelty towards his admirers, is punished by the goddess Nemesis for his heartless behavior. She endows him with unrequited love for his own reflection, leading to his eventual demise. This narrative raises profound questions about the value of empathy and the dangers of narcissism.

In classical myths, themes of pride and its consequences are recurrent motifs. The passage presents a sheer contrast between external beauty and internal character. Narkissos' beauty attracts many, yet his lack of compassion isolates him. Similarly, when Echo is unable to converse and express her love due to her curse, she symbolizes unrequited love and the pain of loving without being able to connect genuinely.

The tragic end of Narkissos serves as a potent symbol - the water lily gazing eternally into the water stresses the idea that being consumed by self-love can be an isolating and ultimately destructive force. Through the lens of mythology, we are reminded that beauty without kindness is hollow and that obsession with oneself can lead to a life unfulfilled by meaningful relationships with others.