Stavros Frangoulidis, Witches, Isis and Narrative. Approaches to Magic in Apuleius' Metamorphoses, De Gruyter, coll. "Trends in Classics -Supplementary Volumes" n° 2, nov. 2008, 255 p.
ISBN 978-3-11-020594-7
Présentation de l'éditeur:
Thisis the first in-depth study of Apuleius' Metamorphoses to look at thedifferent attitudes characters adopt towards magic as a key todeciphering the complex dynamics of the entire work. The variety ofresponses to magic is unveiled in the narrative as the protagonistLucius encounters an assortment of characters, either in embedded talesor in the main plot. A contextualized approach illuminates Lucius'relatively good fortune when compared to other characters in the novel‒ this results from his involvement with the magic of a sorcerer'sapprentice, rather than that of a real witch, and signals thepossibility of eventual salvation. A careful investigation of Lucius'attitude towards Isis in book 11 and his relationship with thewitch-slave girl Photis earlier on suggests that the novel's final bookmay be read as a second "Metamorphoses", consciously rewritten from apositive perspective. Last but not least, the book also breaks newground by examining the narrative structure of the Metamorphosesagainst the background of the typical plotline found in the idealromance. The comparison shows how Apuleius both follows and alters thisplot, exploiting the genre to his own specific ends, in keeping withhis central theme of metamorphosis.