Metamorphases and Invisible Cities

When comparing the two stories, Metamorphases and Invisible Cities, the theme of transformation is both apparent and used in extremely different ways. When first reading Calvino and throughout the book, the reader is lost in imaginary situations but can see the transformation because he uses the contrast of positive and negative imagery in his writings. This creates a intangible scenarios within his cities. Metamorphases on the other hand, uses a more unembellished and factual transformation when creating his story or theories on life. Some similarities between the two writers are the use of language within the text. Both authors create this fantasy setting the reader is left to dwell on. The language leaves the reader feeling complete and satisfied with the scenerios and is easy to comprehend in a make-believe scenery. In Ovids work, there is definitely a correlation between the gods and humans. There is a battle between the two and it is apparent throughout his work. One example is the passage that says, “the gods move toward the palace of the Thunderer, his royal halls, and, right and left, the dwellings of other gods are open, and guests come thronging. The lesser gods live in a meaner section, an area not reserved, as this one is, for the illustrations Great Wheels of Heaven.” Even within the Gods, there is a struggle of who has more authority all the way down to humans. It does not seem like this work seems that similar to that of another myth, but possibly that is because I am not that familiar with that many other myths of my knowledge. The tone that Ovid takes in this work is that of a narrator it seems. It is as if he is a person looking in on a certain story and retelling it as he interpreted it without letting his feelings have a tremendous impact on changing the story.