Male voices in Ovid’s Heroides*

Ovid’s Heroides, both the single and double letters, have been intensively explored in terms of role character female voice throughout last few decades. The particular, supposedly written by well-known legendary heroines abandoned by, or separated from, their “heroic” husbands lovers, extensively treated as regards Ovid’s, i.e. a male poet’s, ability to successfully assume write from perspective women, challenging feat all respects. On this point Ovidian critics not reached unanimous verdict. What about voice, though? Is it fully lost under veil feminine writing? This paper seeks bring forefront examining certain passages which is heard, either indirect speech through direct quoting words lovers. It also attempts trace each letter-writer’s motivation for these words, criteria governing choice quotations, purpose within letter.