Entre o despeito e o respeito: a mulher em Ovídio

Abstract

The beginning of Ovidʹs Art of Love seems to announce a sexist male perspective about the process of seduction and love: man is the hunter, woman is the prey; man should take always the initiative, woman should yield to the seduction. This stereotypically masculine concept of love is present in the most part of Ovidian poetry apparently suggesting a certain spitefulness, not to say rejection, towards women. However there are some moments where the Ovidian attitude is quite different, especially when the poet speaks about physical (i. e. sexual) love or about infidelity: some verses admit that woman has her right to pleasure (an idea which is almost unique in Rome), and also the right to reject and to choose her lovers. The present article aims to present this Ovidian paradox.