Bulfinch’s Mythology · Character

Narcissus

Beautiful youth who fell in love with his own reflection and died.

minor

Also known as Echo, Diana

First appearance: Echo and Narcissus

Narcissus shows up with force in Cephalus and Procris. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Goddess of hunting who gave Procris the magical dog and javelin as gifts.

In the storyCephalus and ProcrisOpen this moment free

Narcissus first appears in 0031 echo and narcissus.

In Cephalus and Procris: Goddess of hunting who gave Procris the magical dog and javelin as gifts.

Later, in Diana and Actaeon: The virgin goddess of the hunt who punishes Actaeon for seeing her unapparelled by transforming him into a stag.

See Narcissus in Cephalus and Procris Book page

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Character Web

51 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Greek and Trojan Heroes
Virgilian and Ovidian Figures

+46 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional peak of Tristram’s brief reunion with…

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In the story

Narcissus appears across 19 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Cephalus and Procris
Goddess of hunting who gave Procris the magical dog and javelin as gifts.
Diana and Actaeon
The virgin goddess of the hunt who punishes Actaeon for seeing her unapparelled by transforming him into a stag.
XIII: Nisus and Scylla—Echo and Narcissus—Clytie—Hero and Leander
Nymph cursed by Juno to only repeat others' words; pines for Narcissus and fades into a voice.
XIII: Nisus and Scylla—Echo and Narcissus—Clytie—Hero and Leander
Beautiful youth who rejects Echo and falls in love with his own reflection, leading to his death and transformation into a flower.
Echo and Narcissus
A beautiful nymph cursed by Juno to only repeat the last words of others; she pines away from unrequited love for Narcissus until only her voice remains.
Echo and Narcissus
A beautiful youth who cruelly rejects Echo and later falls in love with his own reflection, leading to his death and transformation into a flower.
Echo and Narcissus
Goddess of the hunt, whom Echo attended as a favorite in the chase.
Niobe
Daughter of Latona, who joins Apollo in punishing Niobe by killing her daughters.
Meleager and Atalanta
Goddess who sends the Calydonian boar due to neglect and later pities Meleager's sisters, turning them into birds.
Endymion—Orion—Aurora and Tithonus—Acis and Galatea
Goddess of the moon, falls in love with Endymion and later accidentally kills Orion.
Diana and Endymion
The moon goddess who descends to kiss and watch over the sleeping Endymion.
Orion
Favorite of Orion; accidentally killed him and placed him among the stars.
Camilla
Goddess of the woods, to whom Camilla is consecrated by her father Metabus.
The Diana a la Biche
Depicted as a huntress in the sculpture, shown in eager motion with a hind by her side.
XXXVI: Modern Monsters—The Phoenix—Basilisk—Unicorn—Salamander
The basilisk's carcass was also hung in the temple of Diana, preventing swallows from entering.
The Cockatrice, or Basilisk
The basilisk's carcass was hung in the temple of Diana, preventing swallows from entering.
The Mythical History of England
Goddess of the hunt; appears in a vision to Brutus, guiding him to found a new Troy in Britain.
D
Goddess of the moon and the chase, daughter of Jupiter and Latona.
N
Died of unsatisfied love for his own image in the water.

Chapter companion notes

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See Narcissus in Echo and Narcissus

See Narcissus in Cephalus and Procris