Metamorphoses

Metamorphoses

by

Ovid

Glaucus Character Analysis

Glaucus is a sea nymph who used to be a fisherman. One day while fishing, he laid his fish out on a magical pasture, and they started jumping back into the waves. Glaucus ate a few blades of grass and suddenly transformed into a fish-like creature with the urge to live in the sea. As a nymph, Glaucus is furious when he is rejected by Scylla and asks Circe to put a love spell on Scylla. Circe, falling love with Glaucus, poisons Scylla and turns her to stone, causing Glaucus to get angry and reject Circe.
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Glaucus Character Timeline in Metamorphoses

The timeline below shows where the character Glaucus appears in Metamorphoses. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 13: Glaucus and Scylla (1)
Love and Destruction Theme Icon
...and Scylla returns to land and walks along the beach. Suddenly, a sea nymph named Glaucus notices Scylla and finds her very beautiful. He tries to talk to her, but she... (full context)
Metamorphosis Theme Icon
Humanity vs. Nature  Theme Icon
Noticing Scylla’s wonder, Glaucus beaches himself against a rock and calls up to her. Glaucus says that he is... (full context)
Metamorphosis Theme Icon
Time, Fate, and Poetry  Theme Icon
Glaucus wondered if the meadow had magical powers. He picked some grass and ate it. Suddenly,... (full context)
Love and Destruction Theme Icon
Glaucus wonders what good his new form is if it doesn’t impress Scylla. Interrupting Glaucus’s speech,... (full context)
Book 14: Glaucus and Scylla (2)
Love and Destruction Theme Icon
Glaucus swims across the sea to the green hills where    Circe lives. He greets Circe and... (full context)
Love and Destruction Theme Icon
Glaucus explains that while Scylla is alive, he can’t love anyone else. Circe is enraged by... (full context)