# Echo — Metamorphoses character guide

> Echo in Metamorphoses by Ovid.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the sad Echo

**First appearance:** 0024-transformation-of-echo

## Snapshot

A nymph cursed to speak only by repeating others' words, she loves Narcissus in silence until grief wears her body away to a voice.

## Who they are

Echo was once a talkative nymph who helped Jupiter evade Juno's watch by distracting the goddess with endless chatter, until Juno punished her to speak only last. When she falls in love with Narcissus, she cannot tell him, only echo his own words back at him, and he recoils from her outstretched arms. Her pining reduces her to bones and a lingering voice, making her the poem's most haunting figure of love that has no language of its own.

## Relationships

### [Medea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/characters/medea)

_psychological_

Echo and Medea are linked by themes of obsession and manipulation, though not directly interacting.

## In the story

### [Book III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/book-iii)

A nymph cursed by Juno to only repeat others' words; she pines for Narcissus and fades away.

### [Transformation of Echo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/transformation-of-echo)

Punished by Juno for her loquacity; falls in love with Narcissus and pines away until only her voice remains.

### [Story of Narcissus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-narcissus)

The slighted nymph whose prayer for vengeance leads to Narcissus's fate; she mourns his death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/characters/echo
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/characters