Sappho "Hymn to Aphrodite" has many symbols with really deep meaning. The first symbol in the poem is "deathless." Next—very important—is "spangled mind." Line two contains "twists lures," and in the following stanza we find the phrase "golden house," which has symbolic meaning. "Birds brought you" and "quick sparrows" are two additional symbols. Stanza four contains "deathless face" and "the following stanza has "crazy heart" and "persuade." Later in the poem we find a few more symbols. In stanza six important meaning has "refuses gifts" and word "even unwilling." In the last stanza "heart longs" and "accomplish" are important.
The denotative meaning of symbols refers to the standard, common definition which can be found in the dictionary. Deathless means simply immortal, that can not die, spangled is decorated as with spangles. In line two twists lures would be to wind, rotate or twist anything that tempts or entices. In denotative meaning of the golden house is the place to live in, which has color of gold. Quick sparrows means rapid, fast small, perching songbirds. Phrase crazy heart is simply enthusiastic, foolish center of emotions, love, sympathy or spirit of courage. Persuade means to cause to do or believe something by reasoning, urging. In last two stanzas denotative meaning of refuses gifts is to decline to accept, to decline the request of something given and unwilling means not willing, reluctant. Finally heart longs is to feel a strong yearning to love, sympathy, and accomplish means to succeed in doing something, to complete.
The poem very "richly" describes feelings, love and devotion. In the first stanza Sappho admits Aphrodite's strength and power, also mentions her skills and deception, using word like: "one who twists lures," whet is speaking about specific skills that the goddess employs to ensnare a reluctant lover. It makes an allusion to the sparrow as a bird of love. Aphrodite arrives in a "car" drawn by a flock of sparrows, which represents fertility. The image of the sparrows is one of wings beating furiously as they bring the goddess down from heaven to the darkened earth. Reading the third stanza we find out that the author and the goddess have a close relationship. Finally, Aphrodite arrives. She is described as immortal, blessed, sacred. Also her power is mentioned again. The dialogue begins between Sappho and the object of her prayer. She takes a risk and starts speaking for Aphrodite with surprising, shockingly accessible and casual voice. She is shown this time to be very friendly and devoted. The poem repeats a refrain ("now again"), demonstrating almost mystification and constant asking for help. Later Aphrodite asks the poet what she needs this time. Because Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, she has the power to force a lover's return, usually through trickery and deception. The phrasing of the goddess's question, "Who shall I persuade to take you back, yet once again?" establishes that the speaker has had this problem in the past and that the goddess has come to help again. The problem is again love, as it has been in the past. The question "Who, O Sappho, is wronging you?" explains that the speaker is deserving of Aphrodite's love and help. The final word, "Sappho" links the speaker and poet, and the speaker ceases to be an abstract entity and becomes the poet persona, Sappho.
In the last two verses, the reader hears Aphrodite's wise advice and is perhaps not surprised to find her acknowledging that the situation is temporary. The word "pursue" suggests that not only will Sappho's desires come to pass, but the roles of her unrequited love affair will in fact be reversed. Instead the love interest will be unwilling because now she is the one pursuing an unrequited love, as Sappho will have invariably turned her own attentions elsewhere. It will be Sappho’s turn to run away and refuse gifts, while the lover chases after her, perhaps formulating her own lamentations and appeals to the goddess. The poetess’ perspective takes over once again for the last lines, reiterating her prayer in the same classic style as its invocation. She asks for an ally in the goddess in a manner that might allow her to take on Aphrodite’s divine powers for herself and use them again.
Sappho’s poem significantly does not depict Aphrodite as a trifling patron of flowers and love. The goddess demonstrates a willingness to use all of her godly powers to fulfill Sappho’s wants and has returned again to rescue her from her romantic misadventures. Although an occasional exasperated tone and light-heartedness may be detected, the dramatic aspect remains serious and intense. Sappho is wholly in appeal, giving herself over entirely to the divine request. The image of Aphrodite in all of her glory descending upon Sappho to resolve a momentary fluster of emotion is quite profound. Symbolically, the image of Aphrodite serves as a catalyst for Sappho, allowing her to reach her full, independent, feminine potential.
Sources: Anne Carson, If not, winter: Fragments of Sappho;
Webster's New World Compact Office Dictionary
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