Echo Gets her Revenge

Echo wept silently for days when her love, Narcissus, died and was transformed into a flower. As she could only repeat the last word she heard, she cried “Goodbye!”, for days on end as she grieved. And not a soul heard her cries, expect for one certain goddess. Nemesis, the goddess of revenge, the same one who had cursed Narcissus to fall in love with his own reflection, which led to his death. She recognized Echo’s pain but thought little of it. But as time wore on, she began to wonder who was this girl who continued to cry day after day for a man who lonely ever loved himself. She inquired and was told the story of how Echo’s voice was taken by Juno, wife of Jupiter. Nemesis’s interest was peaked upon hearing this. She had always had ill feelings toward Juno, whom she felt did not deserve the power she was given. So Nemesis saw an opportunity to do what she did best: help someone get revenge. Nemesis returned to the fountain where Narcissus had perished and picked the flower from the ground. She then traveled far and wide across mountains and rivers to find where the cave where Echo had wasted away and turned to stone. She finally found it, and presented Echo with the flower that was Narcissus, and in the presence of the soul she had loved so much, Echo’s body began to change. The gray stone became flesh again, her hair once again became long and flowing, and she spoke her own words for the first time since she had withered in that dark cave. Echo thanked Nemesis again and again, but the goddess would not accept any thanks. She only urge Echo to return to Juno and get her revenge in whatever form she desired. Echo tucked the flower behind her ear and set off. She traveled to Juno’s temple. The moment she walked in, there was a blinding flash of light and Juno appeared before Echo, enraged at the sight of her. Echo knew that the greatest revenge she could get on Juno would simply be the humiliation of the world seeing that Juno had failed to permanently silence her. So she bartered with Juno. She asked that Juno restore Narcissus to his human form, bringing him back to life, but also changing his fate so that he could love another as much as he had loved himself. Juno begrudgingly agreed, and it was done. Juno was able to keep Echo’s triumph a secret, and Echo and Narcissus lived happily together for the rest of their lives in a secluded part of a forest, without a single fountain around.

Echo and Narcissus

Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche translated by Tony Kline link to online reading

Author's note: The original story of Narcissus involves Echo, who loves him but cannot tell him. Narcissus discovers his reflection in a fountain, and becomes so consumed with it, that he die when he realizes he cannot attain this beautiful person he sees in his reflection. As he dies, he is transformed into a beautiful flower, and thats where my story picks up. I am continuing the story focusing on Echo.