Trapped In Time - Chapter 90

The poet Ovid also dealt with the mythology of the narcissus. In his Metamorphoses, he recounts the story of the youth Narcissus who, after his death, is turned into the flower, and it is also mentioned in Book 5 of his poem Fasti. This theme of metamorphosis was broader than just Narcissus; for instance see crocus, laurel, and hyacinth

“The poem I will recite now about myself, you must all have read in your English class. It was written by William Wordsworth.”

I wandered lonely as a Cloud

That floats on high o’er Vales and Hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd

A host of dancing Daffodils;

Along the Lake, beneath the trees,

Ten thousand dancing in the breeze.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: –

A poet could not but be gay

In such a laughing company:

I gazed – and gazed – but little thought

What wealth the shew to me had brought:

For oft when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude,

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the Daffodils.

Although there is no clear evidence that the flower’s name derives directly from the Greek myth, this link between the flower and the myth became firmly part of western culture. The narcissus or daffodil is the most loved of all English plants and appears frequently in English literature. Many English writers have referred to the cultural and symbolic importance of Narcissus. No flower has received more poetic description except the rose and the lily, with poems by authors from John Gower, Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats. Frequently the poems deal with self-love derived from Ovid’s account. Gower’s reference to the yellow flower of the legend has been assumed to be the daffodil or Narcissus,

Shakespeare frequently uses flower imagery,] refers to daffodils twice in The Winter’s Tale and also The Two Noble Kinsmen. Robert Herrick alludes to their association with death in a number of poems. Among the English romantic movement writers, none is better known than William Wordsworth’s short 1804 poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud which has become linked in the popular mind with the daffodils that form its main image. Wordsworth also included the daffodil in other poems. Keats refers to daffodils among those things capable of bringing “joy forever”.

More recently A. E. Housman, using one of the daffodil’s more symbolic names, wrote The Lent Lily in A Shropshire Lad, describing the traditional Easter death of the daffodil.

In Black Narcissus, Rumer Godden describes the disorientation of English nuns in the Indian Himalayas, and gives the plant name an unexpected twist, alluding both to narcissism and the effect of the perfume Narcisse Noir (Caron) on others. The novel was later adapted into the 1947 British film of the same name. The narcissus also appears in German literature such as that of Paul Gerhardt

In the visual arts, narcissi are depicted in three different contexts, mythological (Narcissus, Persephone), floral art, or landscapes. The Narcissus story has been popular with painters and the youth is frequently depicted with flowers to indicate this association. The Persephone theme is also typified by Waterhouse in his Narcissus, the floral motif by van Scorel and the landscape by Van Gogh’s Undergrowth.

Narcissi first started to appear in western art in the late middle ages, in panel paintings, particularly those depicting crucifixion. For instance that of the Westfälischer Meister in Köln in the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne, where daffodils symbolize not only death but also hope in the resurrection because they are perennial and bloom at Easter.

Eastern cultures

In Chinese culture Narcissus tazetta subsp. chinensis (Chinese sacred lilies), which can be grown indoors, is widely used as an ornamental plant. It was probably introduced to China by Arab traders traveling the Silk Road prior to the Song Dynasty for medicinal use. Spring-flowering, they became associated with Chinese New Year, signifying good fortune, prosperity and good luck and there are many legends in Chinese culture associated with Narcissus. In contrast to the West, narcissi have not played a significant part in Chinese Garden art, however, Zhao Mengjian in the Southern Song Dynasty was noted for his portrayal of narcissi. Narcissus bulb carving and cultivation has become an art akin to Japanese bonsai. The Japanese novel Narcissu contains many references to the narcissus, where the main characters set out for the famed narcissus fields on Awaji Island.

In India, the daffodil is commonly known as Nargis or Yemberzal (in Kashmiri). The importance of this flower for the Kashmiri people and other mountain regions is that it declares the arrival of Spring after the long harsh months of Winter. This white petalled beauty is also considered a symbol of good health and prosperity. A popular Kashmiri folk song, derived from the first-ever Kashmiri opera performed- Bombur ta Yemberzal, is illustrative of the love story of the Narcissus (Yemberzal) and the Bumble Bee (Bombur)

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Islamic culture

Narcissi are one of the most popular garden plants in Islamic culture. Prior to the Arab conquest of Persia, the Persian ruler Khosrau I is said to have not been able to tolerate them at feasts because they reminded him of eyes, an association that persists to this day, as described by the poet Ghalib. The eye imagery is also found in a number of poems by Abu Nuwas. Another poet who refers to narcissi is Rumi.

Festivals

In some areas where narcissi are prevalent, their blooming in spring is celebrated in festivals. For instance, the slopes around Montreux, Switzerland and its associated riviera come alive with blooms each May (May Snow) at the annual Narcissi Festival. Festivals are also held in many other countries.

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“That is all that we have to say,” replied the largest Daffodil plant waving its flowery head.

I know it has been a long lecture but there was a lot of information that I had to give you all. Till I give it, I can not shut myself off.”

” If you need more information, when you go home you can search the internet to get a lot of information or you can go to a horticulture expert who will tell you a lot of things.”

“You see our knowledge is what has been placed in our chip. The information needs to be updated constantly as you all will need to learn new things.”

“By the way, it is getting to be evening soon and as soon as the sun goes down we switch over to sleeping/resting/ respiratory mode. Hence, we cannot answer any questions. Tomorrow, when the sun comes then the plants, trees animals, birds, etc. will be in a position to answer your questions.”

“Now, are there any questions about Daffodils?”

“I do not think we have any questions as you have given us a very long lecture,” responded Chris.