Magic Mirrors: Mirror Metaphors in Ovid's Ars Amatoria

  • Lucy Mudie

Student thesis: Phd

Abstract

This thesis explores the profound significance of mirrors within Ovid's Ars Amatoria, proposing that we read them as more than just physical objects but rather as potent symbols within Ovid's work that encapsulate philosophical, metaphorical, and hermeneutical dimensions. By serving as conduits for the critique of philosophical paradigms, I contend that Ovid's mirrors offer a philosophical commentary exposing the limitations of philosophy and the complexities of human behaviour, emotions, and relationships. As metaphors for introspection and perception, I suggest that Ovid's mirrors illuminate the interplay between false appearances and underlying truths throughout his poem. Acting as metaliterary metaphors for intertextuality and interpretation, it is my view that Ovid's mirrors shed light on his poetic engagement with the literary tradition and his contemporary socio-political context, revealing both layers of artistic creation and self-expression while also providing a nuanced and rather contentious critique of Augustan authority in Rome. This thesis, building upon contemporary Ovidian scholarship, aims to make a meaningful contribution to the field by inviting us to consider the profound thematic implications of mirrors in Ovid's Ars Amatoria. Conclusively, I contend that mirrors serve as key interpretative tools in recognising the implied authorial intention of Ovid's poem, the sophisticated nature of its poetics, and its potential socio-political impact on Augustan Rome.
Date of Award31 Dec 2024
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • The University of Manchester
SupervisorTom Phillips (Supervisor) & Alison Sharrock (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Ars Amatoria
  • Augustan Rome
  • Metapoetics
  • Augustan Poetry
  • Mirrors
  • Philosophy
  • Ovid

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