Venus and Adonis

by Shakespeare

First published 1593

Amazon

3.7(3,923)

In Shakespeare’s narrative poem, Venus passionately pursues the beautiful young Adonis, who resists her arguments for love and prefers hunting. Their extended encounter reverses conventional courtship roles as the goddess pleads, warns and attempts to restrain a mortal who remains determined to leave.

Adonis is later killed by a boar, transforming the comic energy of pursuit into lament. Shakespeare expands a classical myth into a psychologically detailed poem about desire that is not reciprocated, the danger of idealising beauty and the inability of divine power to prevent mortal loss.