What has actually happened? The feeling of worthlessness was realised when it was understood that neither the notion of “purpose” nor that of “Unity” nor that of “Truth” could be made to interpret the general character of existence. Nothing is achieved or obtained thereby; the unity which intervenes in the multiplicity of events is entirely lacking: The character of existence is not “true” it is false; there is certainly no longer any reason to believe in a real-world; In short, the categories, “Purpose” “Unity” “Being” by means of which we had lent some worth to live, we have once more divorced from it – And the world now appears worthless to us… Nietzche(1844-1900)
The Lonely Leader
- Long to be seduced, to have someone break through their isolation and overwhelm them
- Powerful people, dangerous and distrustful
- Suspicious victim – hardest to seduce – burdened with responsibility and cares
- Suffer from inner conflict
- Sex all the time V.s. To be alone with himself to recharge and give a sense of direction
- Seduction – be blunt with them
- Act as their equal or even superior – new treatment
- Patient and clever – slowly fill their mind with thoughts of you
When her time has come, that Nymph most fair brought forth a child with whom one could have fallen in love even in his cradle, and she called him Narcissus… Cephisus’s child had reached his sixteenth year and could be counted as at once boy and man. Many lads and many girls fell In love with him, but his soft young body housed a pride so unyielding that none of those boys or girls dared to touch him. One day as he was driving timid deer into his nets, he was seen by that talkative nymph who cannot stay silent when another speaks, but yet has not learned to speak first herself. Her name is Echo, and she always answers back… So when she saw Narcissus wandering through the lonely countryside, Echo fell in love with him and followed secretly in his steps. The closer she followed, the nearer was the fire which scorched her: just as sulphur, smeared round the tops of torches, is quickly kindled when a flame is brought near it. How often she wished to make flattering overtures to him, to approach him with tender pleas! – The boy, by chance, had wandered away from his faithful band of comrades, and he called out: “Is there anybody here?” Echo answered ” HERE !”
Narcissus stood still in astonishment, looking round in every direction… he looked behind him, and when no one appeared, cried again: ” Why are you avoiding me?” But all he heard were his own words echoed back. Still, he persisted, deceived by what he took to be another’s voice, and said ” Come here, and let us meet!” Echo answered: “Let us meet!” Never again would she reply more willingly to any sound. To make good her words she came out of the wood and made to throw her arms round the neck she loved.: be he fled from her, crying as he did so ” AWay with these embraces! I would die before I would have you touch me!” Thus scorned, she concealed herself in the woods, hiding her shamed face in the shelter of the leaves, and ever since that day she dwelled in lonely caves. Yet still, her love remained firmly rooted in her heart and was increased by the pain of having been rejected… Narcissus had played with her affections, treating her as he had previously treated other spirits of the waters and the woods, and his male admirers too. Then one of those he had scorned raised up his hands to heaven and prayed: ” May he himself fall in love with another, as we have done with him! May he too be unable to gain his loved One!” Nemesis heard and granted his righteous prayer… Narcissus wearied with hunting in the heat of the day lay down, here [ by a clear pool] for he was attracted by the beauty of the place, and by the spring. While he sought to quench his thirst, another first grew in him, and as he drank, he was enchanted by the beautiful reflection that he saw.
First Impression
- Capture and hold attention – Need to show attributes that go against physical appearance
- Create depth and mystery
- Critical first entrance
- Do not show too much desire for attention – signal insecurity – Often drives people away
- Play it too cold and disinterested – no one will bother to come hear
- The seducer tricks with combinations – We are all complex and ambiguous
- Full of contradictory impulses
- It is anti-seductive to show only one side, you will get on people’s nerves
He fell in love with an insubstantial hope, mistaking a mere shadow for a real body. Spellbound by his own self, he remained there motionless, with a fixed gaze, like a statue carved from Parian marble.. Unwittingly, he desired himself, and was himself the object of his own approval, at once seeking and sought, himself kindling the flame with which he burned. How often did he vainly kiss the treachours pool, how often plunge his arms deep in the waters, as he tried to clasp the neck he saw! But he could not lay hold upon himself. HE did not know what he was looking at, but was fired by the sight, and excited by the very illusion that decided his eyes. Poor foolish boy, why vainly grasp the fleeting image that eludes you? The thing you are seeking does not exist: only turn aside and you will lose what you love. What you see is but the shadow cast by your reflection; in itself it is nothing. It comes to you, and lasts while you are there; it will go when you go, if go you can… he laid down his weary head on the green grass, and death closed the eyes which so admired their owner’s beauty. Even then, when he was received into the body of the dead, he kept looking at himself in the water of the Styx. His sisters, the nymphs of the spring, mounted for him and cut off their hair in tribute to their brother. The wood nymphs mourned I’m too, and Echo sang her refrain to their lament. The pyre, the tossing torches, and the bier were now being prepared, but his body was nowhere to be found. Instead of his corpse, they discovered a flower with a circle of white petals around a yellow centre. – OVID METAMORPHOSES