The Myth of Narcissus and its Reception in Western Culture

The book concerns the reception of the Narcissus myth in Western Culture, ranging in time from the Middle Ages and the early modern period to the present day. Drawing on Ovid’s and Pausanias’ versions of myth, Dr Agnieszka Gotchold distinguishes the mirror, vanitas and incest motifs to include in her comparative and interdisciplinary analyses works of literature, fine arts, as well as music. The book is all the more relevant for us today as, following the thesis of an American social critic, we live in “the epoch of narcissism.” […] What I find particularly inspiring is a comprehensive application of Sigmund Freud’s and Jacques Lacan’s theories of desire and their anchoring in Northrop Frye’s theory of myth and his distinction between the myth of concern and that of freedom. It is an unquestionably excellent work which superbly demonstrates the author’s extraordinary scientific mastery. Due to her innovative transdisciplinary approach, the book is certain to have an influence on both the humanities and psychoanalysis. Prof. Dr. phil. Dr. med. Hermann Lang, the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg