Sunday, September 13, 2020

Shades, Colors, and Time: Eclogues 2

Unfortunately, this post will be a little shorter than usual. There is not much in regards to shade, but it is still a great facet in this "monologue." In Eclogues 2, shade plays a different role. Shade and shadow are used almost as a replacement for the romantic gestures found in Eclogues 1. What was once used as a rest now brings turmoil and loneliness! Tragic. Light and dark are also mentioned here, but in terms of color (often in comparison), and not in lighting. The following are mentions of shade, shadow, and light/dark themes:


tantum inter densas, umbrosa cacumina, fagos adsidue veniebat. (2.3-4)

    He is alone, under the cover of trees. It is a scene that invokes anger and loneliness.

nunc etiam pecudes umbras et frigora captant. (2.9)

    The sheep also desire to remove   themselves from the warm sun (which is now burning) - also showing that this is no longer a pleasant and relaxing moment like it was seen in Eclogues 1.

nonne Menalcan, quam vis ille niger, quamvis tu candidus esses?

...alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur. (2.15-18)

    The difference between light and dark (white and black) in skin color, but Menalcan should not believe that color means much to her love. O beautiful boy, do not believe too much in the colors!


Before, we saw the use of light and dark as a passage of time (we still sort of see this throughout the monologue, but not as definite as Eclogues 1). Now, we see light and dark as physical markers. Things are dark, black, light, and white in our observation of the world in Eclogues 2. The ripe colors of fruits, the flowers that fall versus the ones are chosen - the world is expanded beyond shaded tree areas. I think it could be argued that these uses also show longer passages of time, like noting the seasons, especially for harvesting.

1 comment:

  1. The use of dark and light as physical markers is an interesting development in Ecl.2, you are right. And there is a movement from a single day, noon to evening, to include a seasonal element. N.B., though: Menalcas, though the name looks feminine, is a Greek word and he is a male.

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