FRIEND OR FLATTERER? A WIFE AS A MIRROR IN PLUTARCH’S ADVICE TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM (14, 139F–140A)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-0319.18.04Keywords:
Plutarch, marriage, friendship, flattery, mirrorAbstract
In chapter 14 of the “Advice to the Bride and Groom” Plutarch recommends a wife should behave like a mirror, faithfully reflecting her husband’s moods and attitudes. In this paper I compare this piece of advice with other mirror-similes which have been related to human beings (as lovers, friends, flatterers, and models to follow) in ancient Greek and Roman literature, especially in Plutarch’s works. I conclude that the ideal Plutarchan wife has been situated, perhaps unintentionally, „between” friend and flatterer, because the mirror-simile in the “Advice…” symbolizes not only the true unity of man and his wife, but also the strict hierarchy amongst them.Downloads
Published
2015-01-01
How to Cite
Sowa, J. (2015). FRIEND OR FLATTERER? A WIFE AS A MIRROR IN PLUTARCH’S ADVICE TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM (14, 139F–140A). Collectanea Philologica, 18, 37–51. https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-0319.18.04
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