Final answer:
Fixated and devoted passion as a curse is a theme explored in literature, with figures like Aphrodite playing a role in conjuring strife due to love. Characters in works by Ovid and Catullus illustrate the torment and societal views associated with such overwhelming desires.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of a "fixated and devoted passion" as a curse in literature is a common theme, especially in relation to the divine intervention of figures such as Aphrodite that conjures insatiable strife. Texts like Ovid's metamorphoses and the poetry of Catullus illustrate tormented characters whose love becomes their downfall. For instance, Iphis in Ovid’s work suffers immensely due to her love for Ianthe—a love seen as strange and monstrous at that time. Iphis's plight is a reflection of the societal fears and taboos regarding female same-sex relationships in Roman society.
Similarly, the invocation to Aphrodite in ancient texts is often a plea for relief from the overwhelming and destructive force of love. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, has the power to both ignite and extinguish the flames of passion, and her role in these narratives is to conjure an emotional response that is both intense and uncontrolled, leading to strife and turmoil.
Moreover, other texts like Horace's Epodes and Catullus' Poem 75 depict love as a consuming force that's both revered and reviled, creating a cycle of obsession that is difficult to escape. This torment and eventual downfall or curse, instigated often by love and desire, underscores the powerful grip of passion that transcends human control, possibly under the whims of deities like Aphrodite.