Orpheus requested the nuptial gods to attend their marriage; however, omens descended, and tragedy soon came. Eurydice, as she sprinted for joy through the fields of flowers, abruptly was bit by a venomous viper and was stricken dead (Ovid, 1 A.C.E.). Orpheus was deeply distraught over the loss of his love, so he devised a plan …show more content…
His heart pounding and his desire for his wife became unbearable. He could not bear to wait another second to cast his eyes upon her any longer. Orpheus broke his word and looked back at Eurydice before she was out of the tunnel. Orpheus only saw a shadow of his beautiful wife before she disappeared forever, the only thing he heard was a farewell from his beloved (Ovid, 1 A.C.E.).
Why did Orpheus look at Eurydice before she was out of the tunnel knowing it was not allowed as part of his agreement with the king and queen of the underworld? His sense may have abandoned him; he was so besieged with love and desire he forgot he must not look upon his wife till she was out of the tunnel. His only thought was casting his eyes upon his lovely wife and caressing her lovely young skin.
Orpheus and Eurydice’s love ended in tragedy. Orpheus was not allowed to enter Hates again to attempt another rescue and ended up lonely and miserable. He became insane with guilt, knowing he was the reason he had lost his love for the final time. He refused every other woman's advance until he angered a group of Thracian women who ended up killing Orpheus, they ripped off his limbs and mutilated his body (Orpheus, n.d.). Upon his death, it is believed he was reunited with Eurydice after he found her in the Elysian Fields Orpheus, (n.d.). This thought gives some peace of mind knowing he was eventually united with his love in the