“Being So Caught up”: Exploring Religious Projection and Ethical Appeal in <i>Leda and the Swan</i>
This paper explores the religious projection and ethical appeal in the art and literature of <i>Leda and the Swan</i> created from ancient times to the contemporary era, so as to make a comparative review and reading on it, providing religious reflection and ethical enlightenment to toda...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/107 |
| _version_ | 1797414005605662720 |
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| author | Shilong Tao Anqi Peng Xi Chen |
| author_facet | Shilong Tao Anqi Peng Xi Chen |
| author_sort | Shilong Tao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper explores the religious projection and ethical appeal in the art and literature of <i>Leda and the Swan</i> created from ancient times to the contemporary era, so as to make a comparative review and reading on it, providing religious reflection and ethical enlightenment to today’s society. From ancient Greek vase paintings to contemporary English poems, the investigation shows that the story of <i>Leda and the Swan</i> has been continuously rewritten and revalued by history, religion and social ethics. The interaction between Leda and the swan goes from divinity to humanity, increasingly out of the cage of eroticism, symbolizing the process of transforming into a secularized life. Besides, Leda, as a representative victim of traditional patriarchy and religious persecution, goes from bondage to liberation, signaling the awakening of feminine consciousness and the gradual collapse of patriarchy; while the swan, an incarnation of power and desire under patriarchy, becomes an object of condemnation. However, as for who is the victim and who should be condemned, there are different religious and ethical standards in different historical periods, which reflects the development and evolution of religious rules and ethical orders in the historical process. By highlighting the Trojan War or woman’s sufferings, <i>Leda and the Swan</i>, in fact, reveals that the tragedy results from the uncontrollable animal factor and free will, and that women should face their ethical or religious identities to make correct choices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:26:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2e6d95fb491436f96f047c70b3a8a3d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:26:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2e6d95fb491436f96f047c70b3a8a3d2023-12-03T12:36:20ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-02-0112210710.3390/rel12020107“Being So Caught up”: Exploring Religious Projection and Ethical Appeal in <i>Leda and the Swan</i>Shilong Tao0Anqi Peng1Xi Chen2School of Foreign Languages, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaSchool of Foreign Languages, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaSchool of Foreign Languages, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaThis paper explores the religious projection and ethical appeal in the art and literature of <i>Leda and the Swan</i> created from ancient times to the contemporary era, so as to make a comparative review and reading on it, providing religious reflection and ethical enlightenment to today’s society. From ancient Greek vase paintings to contemporary English poems, the investigation shows that the story of <i>Leda and the Swan</i> has been continuously rewritten and revalued by history, religion and social ethics. The interaction between Leda and the swan goes from divinity to humanity, increasingly out of the cage of eroticism, symbolizing the process of transforming into a secularized life. Besides, Leda, as a representative victim of traditional patriarchy and religious persecution, goes from bondage to liberation, signaling the awakening of feminine consciousness and the gradual collapse of patriarchy; while the swan, an incarnation of power and desire under patriarchy, becomes an object of condemnation. However, as for who is the victim and who should be condemned, there are different religious and ethical standards in different historical periods, which reflects the development and evolution of religious rules and ethical orders in the historical process. By highlighting the Trojan War or woman’s sufferings, <i>Leda and the Swan</i>, in fact, reveals that the tragedy results from the uncontrollable animal factor and free will, and that women should face their ethical or religious identities to make correct choices.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/107<i>Leda and the Swan</i>religious projectionethical appealpatriarchyfeminismethical literary criticism |
| spellingShingle | Shilong Tao Anqi Peng Xi Chen “Being So Caught up”: Exploring Religious Projection and Ethical Appeal in <i>Leda and the Swan</i> Religions <i>Leda and the Swan</i> religious projection ethical appeal patriarchy feminism ethical literary criticism |
| title | “Being So Caught up”: Exploring Religious Projection and Ethical Appeal in <i>Leda and the Swan</i> |
| title_full | “Being So Caught up”: Exploring Religious Projection and Ethical Appeal in <i>Leda and the Swan</i> |
| title_fullStr | “Being So Caught up”: Exploring Religious Projection and Ethical Appeal in <i>Leda and the Swan</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Being So Caught up”: Exploring Religious Projection and Ethical Appeal in <i>Leda and the Swan</i> |
| title_short | “Being So Caught up”: Exploring Religious Projection and Ethical Appeal in <i>Leda and the Swan</i> |
| title_sort | being so caught up exploring religious projection and ethical appeal in i leda and the swan i |
| topic | <i>Leda and the Swan</i> religious projection ethical appeal patriarchy feminism ethical literary criticism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/107 |
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