Ovid's Poem "Art of Love"

English > Analysis
History > Greek and Roman
Literature > Greek and Roman

Addresses the question of whether Ovid's "Art of Love" was subversive to the rule and reforms of the Roman emperor Augustus.

1,370 words () | 1 source | 2001 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at Ovid's poem Art of Love, which cheerfully preached the art of seduction and adultery. Eventually Augustus, the ruler of Rome, regarded Ovid as a threat to his moral regime and exiled the poet in 8 C.E. This paper looks at "Art of Love" and examines how Ovid delighted in poking irreverent fun at everything from the sanctity of Roman marriage to the serious consequences of adultery instituted by the Augustan reforms, and how this was considered subversive to Augustan reform.

From the Paper:

"Augustus greatly preferred the poetry of his patron poets, specifically Virgil and Horace. Ovid, however, scorns Virgil's Aeneid, an epic poem portraying a panoramic history of Rome and its destiny. The hero, Aeneas, was driven by his piety, that is, his duty towards the gods and his devotion to his father. Ovid exhibits his rebellious intentions by mocking the traditional aspects of an epic poem. For example, Virgil begins the Aeneid by summoning the Muses and asking for their guidance in his telling of the tale. Ovid, on the other hand, does not abide by this custom; instead he grants himself credit for having previous knowledge on the subject of his writing. He states his work is clearly "based on experience: what I write, believe me, I have practiced" (Ovid 167). Thus, Ovid obviously states he has no need for the aid of the Muses, at the same time taunting Augustan tradition."