El sacrificio de Narciso

Myth is the narrative that, due to its intrinsic properties, is never told. The longing to find a closed and canonical cycle of the Narcissus story is as incomprehensible as the image in which the protagonist finds his reflection. Hence, this book can become a scholarly and admirably subtle study of the narcissistic mythology and, at the same time, be the cornerstone of an authentic mythology of Narcissus for contemporary times. Myth and History, therefore, come together transforming themselves into philosophy of Narcissus' intensity. Its effects, as Florence Abadi well demonstrates and narrates, determine us in the least expected aspects of our love passions, tinged with jealousy, envy and hatred in the same movement in which they collide with the antagonistic desire. Contrary to popular belief, Narcissus does not love himself. He falls in love with her image, and commits suicide in an attempt to hug her. He thus hands over nothing less than his life. Narcissus is, at bottom, a sacrificial figure: he sacrifices his life in his image.