Poetry · Character

Adonis

A rose-cheeked young hunter who loves the chase but laughs love to scorn, until the goddess of desire decides he will be her quarry instead.

major

Also known as young Adonis, Anon Adonis, Anon, Adon

First appearance: Venus and Adonis

As a major figure in Poetry, Adonis is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A beautiful youth who scorns love and hunting, dies from the boar, and is transformed into a flower.

In the storyVenus and AdonisOpen this moment free

See Adonis in Venus and Adonis Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

With Venus (romantic): Venus passionately pursues the reluctant Adonis, creating a dynamic of obsessive love and tragic rejection. With Love (psychological): Adonis is the objectified embodiment of love itself, pursued by Venus but ultimately rejecting its mortal form. With Lucrece (social): Adonis and Lucrece are characters from separate poems by Shakespeare, linked only by thematic parallels of tragic beauty.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Adonis sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Adonis in Venus and Adonis

Character Web

9 connections

A slice of how Adonis sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Psychological
Social
Other

Character groups

Mythological Lovers and Deities
Protagonist

+4 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

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

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because the speaker reaches an emotional and psychological peak of self-aware torm…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Venus
romantic · ambivalent
Venus passionately pursues the reluctant Adonis, creating a dynamic of obsessive love and… How this plays out →
Love
psychological · ambivalent
Lucrece
social · ambivalent
Venus
romantic · ambivalent
Venus passionately pursues the reluctant Adonis, creating a dynamic of obsessive love and… How this plays out →
Venus
romantic · ambivalent
Venus passionately pursues the reluctant Adonis, creating a dynamic of obsessive love and… How this plays out →

Venus
Venus passionately pursues the reluctant Adonis, creating a dynamic of obsessive love and tragic rejection.
Love
Adonis is the objectified embodiment of love itself, pursued by Venus but ultimately rejecting its mortal form.
Lucrece
Adonis and Lucrece are characters from separate poems by Shakespeare, linked only by thematic parallels of tragic beauty.
Venus
Venus passionately pursues the reluctant Adonis, creating a dynamic of obsessive love and tragic rejection.
Venus
Venus passionately pursues the reluctant Adonis, creating a dynamic of obsessive love and tragic rejection.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Adonis in Venus and Adonis

In the story

Adonis appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Venus and Adonis
A beautiful youth who scorns love and hunting, dies from the boar, and is transformed into a flower.
The Passionate Pilgrim
The young, reluctant object of Venus's affections, who flees her advances.
IV
Young and fresh, he rejects Venus's advances, smiling and jesting before running away.
VI
Arrives at the brook, throws off his mantle, and stands naked on the brim before diving into the water to avoid Venus.
Chapter IX
A youngster proud and wild, arrives with horn and hounds, blushes at Venus's display, and flees.
XI
Adonis is the object of Venus's affection but resists her advances, ultimately breaking free and fleeing.
Sonnet LIII
Mentioned as a figure whose description is poorly imitated after the beloved.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Adonis unlock in the free preview.

See Adonis in Venus and Adonis