Blog Post 3

Sappho 24. (Frs.130)

Once again Love drives me on, that loosener of limbs,

bittersweet creature against which nothing can be done.

                        . . . . . . . . . .

But to you, Atthis, the thought of me has grown

hateful, and you fly off to Andromeda.

In the first two chapters of Carson’ work, she surely emphasizes the characteristics and different aspects of bittersweet in terms of love. She compares lovers’ mind to photographic exposure by “creating a positive picture from a negative image.” In addition, she concludes the first chapter by stating, “Love and hate converge within erotic desire.” Then, she claims, “all human desire is poised on an axis of paradox, absence and presence its poles, love and hate its motive energies,” by the end of second chapter. Her concept of bittersweet allows love and hate to coexist, and human desire seems to disappear when the object is present, but it seems to reappear when it is absent.

            Carson’s concept of bittersweet can be employed in this particular fragment of Sappho. Sappho mentioning the reoccurrence of love that “loosens her limbs” can be interpreted as the “sweet” part of being in love. However, Sappho suddenly switches her tone by stating that “the thought of me has grown hateful and you fly off to Andromeda” to describe the “bitter” aspect of love. The sudden transition from love to hate can also be interpreted by Carson’s concept of paradox. Since Carson claims that human desire seems to disappear when lover is at presence, Sappho’s desire might have been gone because Atthis’ existence was no longer “driving” Sappho on.

Archilochus 35-36 (Fr.191-193)

For such was the passion of love that coiled itself beneath

            my heart

     and poured thick mist-across my eyes,

robbing me of my tender senses

In wretchedness I lie here, gripped by longing,

lifeless, with bitter pain by the gods’ will

pierced through the bones.

            Carson’s idea of bittersweet can also be implied in Archilochus’ work. “The passion of love coiling beneath (Archilochus’) heart” shows the “positive image”, also known as the “sweet” side of being in love. However, Archilochus describes his broken heart by writing, “In wretchedness I lie here, gripped by longing, lifeless with bitter pain by the gods’ will pierced through the bones.” Archilochus’ choice of words in the later portion of these fragments clearly portrays a “negative image” that indicates the “bitter” portion of love. In addition to these comparisons, Carson’s conclusion of “love and hate (converging) with erotic desire” could be found in this specific fragment by Archilochus writing, “robbing me of my tender senses” to show the nature of erotic passion.