Ovid's Diana and Actaeon

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in Ovid's story about Diana and Actaeon from ""Metamorphoses", Book 3, the revenge on the part of Diana seemed to be unexplained and without reason. The author believes that Actaeon seeing Diana bathing was clearly an accident; however, maybe it was only an accident to us mortals who are capable of understanding that accidents do happen. On the other hand, the omnipotent gods can fail to see the mistakes in humans. The paper relates that, because gods are allowed to punish against actions and negative behavior that they themselves take part in, as in this story, humans find it difficult to really take the gods seriously and to really question what is right and who should be punished.

From the Paper:

"Due to this pledge against men and Diana's severe distaste or them, she loathed Actaeon and everything he was. To her, he represented everything she taught her followers to stay away from and all that she made them pledge against. Seeing her in her naked form in a way symbolized her giving up her chastity. It was promised never to know a man and then Actaeon came and saw her bare form, untouched and pure. As accidental as it may have been, he still took something her. As a goddess and especially as a woman, it is not always wanted to have a man see you in your naked form. "

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