The Metamorphoses

Question

by Ovid

The party-wall, common to the two houses, was cleft by a small chink, which it had got formerly, when it was built. This defect, remarked by no one for so many ages, you lovers (what does not love perceive?) first found one, and you made it a passage for your voices, and the accents of love used to pass through it in safety, with the gentlest murmur. Oftentimes, after they had taken their stations, Thisbe on one side, and Pyramus on the other, and the breath of their mouths had been mutually caught by turns, they used to say, ‘Envious wall, why dost thou stand in the way of lovers? what great matter were it, for thee to suffer us to be joined with our entire bodies? Or if that is too much, that, at least, thou shouldst open, for the exchange of kisses. Nor are we ungrateful; we confess that we are indebted to thee, that a passage has been given for our words to our loving ears.’ Having said this much, in vain, on their respective sides, about night they said, ‘Farewell’; and gave those kisses each on their own side, which did not reach the other side.

Answer 1

In this excerpt from Ovid's "Metamorphoses," we are introduced to the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisbe, two young lovers separated by a wall that divides their homes. This wall, which has stood unnoticed for years, becomes a poignant symbol of their forbidden love. Through a narrow chink, they communicate their affections, exchanging whispered words and kisses that can barely reach each other.

The longing and frustration of the lovers is palpable as they lament the wall that keeps them apart. They express a desire for the wall to grant them the simple pleasure of being together—whether through a full embrace or even just a kiss. This plea underscores the power of love, which seeks connection regardless of physical barriers. Their dialogue reflects both their devotion and the helplessness imposed by their situation, encapsulating the essence of tragic love.

As the story unfolds, this separated yet deeply connected relationship sets the stage for the themes of love, fate, and tragic misunderstanding that permeate the tale. The heartfelt entreaties of Pyramus and Thisbe highlight their deep emotional bond, making their impending tragic fate all the more poignant.