PRECIS- NICK SEXTON

Since the stories in Ovid's Metamorphosis are mythological stories instead of writings that take argumentative stances, I decided that instead of reviewing a main argument it would be of equal importance to highlight the main point, or "moral" of one of the stories. The tale of "Orpheus and Eurydice" warns against impatience and being overtaken by emotions. In the story, Eurydice is bitten by a snake and dies at a very young age. Orpheus, who is in love with Eurydice, goes to the underworld and begs the powers to release her back to the world of the living. His pleading strikes a chord with the Gods so they allow Eurydice to return to life so long as Orpheus doesn't look back at Eurydice until they have reached the upper world. Ultimately, Orpheus looks back and immediately Eurydice floats backwards, back into the underworld. Orpheus wasn't able to control his emotions and longings to see Eurydice; he was unable to be patient. In the end, Orpheus has to endure the pain of not seeing Eurydice much longer than if he had just been patient and waited until they had reached the world of the living.