Body Parts

Body Parts

Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory

A person should always be more than the sum of their parts, right? But with this myth's descriptions of the statue's body, it's hard to remember that. Ovid in particular really dwells on Galatea's lips, skin, and limbs. He even goes so far as to comment on the bounciness of her… veins. Yeah.

This intense focus on her body speaks to the fact that Pygmalion isn't really interested in the statue's personality. Instead, he's 100% focused on her hot bod. This reinforces the idea that the only thing that matters about a woman is her body—a message that, unfortunately, gets repeated a lot in contemporary society.