Narcissus is a man, or immense love for oneself. Narcissistic narcissus: the meaning of phraseology

Each of us saw this flower, like a six-winged star with a bright yellow center. He stands on a slender smooth leg, thoughtfully inclined a fragrant head, and as if mourned for something. They say that narcissistic narcissus, whose meaning has long been a household name, readily accepts the love of others, but is unable to give it to others. Even in bouquets, the flower does not tolerate the neighborhood of other representatives of the flora. And how are the narcissus-man and the fragrant spring flower related to each other?

Ancient Greek legend

The name of the flower was made a symbol of narcissism by ancient myths and legends. A well-known ancient legend says that a charming son, whom they gave the name of Narcissus, was born sometime at the river god Kefis and the gentle nymph of Liriope. A man could not be as beautiful as this young man was. Many girls dreamed of his love, but to all he remained indifferent. No one but himself could have loved Narcissus. The meaning of phraseology is precisely that this name is called too selfish, fixated on himself a person. It happened to fall in love with the impregnable Narcissus nymph named Echo, but she was rejected by a cruel young man. From anguish, she turned into a rock, responding to the voice of a man, but before she prayed to the gods for retribution. Nemesis, punishing for moral and social misdeeds, punished the obstinate youth. Once, a handsome Narcissus wanted to get drunk from the stream. The man was barely bent to the mirror-like surface, as he was struck in the heart by the unprecedented beauty of reflection. His own perfection made the young man a prisoner of himself: he stretched his hands to the water, called and prayed, but the reflection did not let go the young hunter. After forgetting about food and sleep, he all admired his beauty, was hypnotized by her. The poor Narcissus was pale, weak, and weak. Soon the forces completely left him, and he, drooping his beautiful head into the coastal grass, died. Forest nymphs who decided to arrange a lavish funeral for him did not find the body, but they saw on this place a white fragrant flower and named it "a narcissus" in memory of the unhappy young man. The man who found him was considered a contender for unhappy love. However, over time, the meaning has become more extensive. In Egypt, the flower symbolized beauty, in Persia - immortality, and in Germany - love and a happy marriage.

Chinese legend

"The flower of the water god" is called narcissus in the Celestial Empire. According to an old legend, he grew up on the shore of a dried pond. And this event preceded this event. One poor peasant woman with difficulty gathered at home a handful of rice to feed the son working in the field. But a beggar came to her house and asked to eat. The woman gave him the rice and cried. The traveler asked her if she did not regret that she gave the last meal. The peasant woman answered that she did not, she did not regret, because the unfortunate person needed more food than they did. The stranger thanked the savior and went to the pond. There he rushed into the water, and in the morning locals discovered an unusual delicate flower here. People realized that the water god came to the woman who thanked her in such a beautiful way. In China, this flower represents gratitude, and on New Year's Eve it is the same attribute of the holiday as our Christmas tree.

Narcissistic narcissus: the meaning of phraseology

This stable expression originates, of course, not from the eastern, but from the European legend. The literal love for oneself, which the Greek youth experienced, was transformed into a designation of such qualities of character as egocentrism, self-conceit, narcissism. Narcissus-man tends to overestimate his dignity and neglect other people's interests to please his own. Such a person can not become a good friend, it is difficult to love and can not be relied on in an ambiguous situation. In the team, the narcissus is laughed at, but his narcissism can be a big problem if he occupies a responsible post and is the leader. Is the narcissus captivated by his perfection happy? Probably no. After all, people need communication, support and approval of each other.

So as not to grow daffodil

For gardeners, the question of how to plant and care for the enchanting flower is urgent, but for loving parents it is most important to grow not a narcissus, but a decent and happy person. You do not need to be a well-known teacher to understand that the basis of education here should be reasonable parental love, combining tenderness with discipline, affection with exactitude, educating in the child responsibility, mutual assistance, sympathy and generosity.

Beauty and insidiousness

If a large bouquet of daffodils is placed in a room, you can get dizzy and even faint. The intoxicating-sweet aroma of a plant is capable of such cunning. Flowers are not without reason worn with the word "anesthesia" with a single root name. In translation from Greek - "numbness, numbness". Essential oil of daffodils in ancient times was used in medicine and perfumery.

The eloquent language of flowers

Fans of plant symbolism will be interested to know what the symbolic meaning of colors is. Narcissus, by analogy with the metaphorical meaning adopted in Western civilization, symbolizes selfish desires, deceived hopes, unrequited love, is the personification of cold beauty and vanity. The culture of the East and Asia, on the contrary, gives the flower an inspiring force of kindness, grace and refinement. Presenting the beloved narcissus, the ardent young man thus says to her: "You are the one and only".

Narcissus in art

The great masters of the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci and Benvenuto Cellini, Caravaggio and Poussin dedicated the ancient myth of Narcissus . Ancient Roman poet Ovid in his own way comprehended the content of the legend. Composer Christophe Gluck created an amazing opera based on the legend. About the wonderful handsome, enamored Narcissa, who, until he dies, "looks at himself, endlessly loving" wrote the English romantic poet Shelley. In Russia there is a curious story of the Strugatsky brothers "Narcissus" about a man living in the twentieth century and owning the secret of hypnosis.