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A popular concept in love is virginity and how it can be a somewhat new and scary experience this is seen both in Longus’s “Daphnis and Chloe” and Madonna’s “like a virgin.” In “Daphnis and Chloe” Daphnis did not know the first thing about sex and was very confused and lost as what to do to show and complete his bond with Chloe. He was becoming very confused and sexually frustrated because he did not know the first thing about love or love-making. Enter Lycaenion who happily volunteers to help teach Daphnis the art of love-making and take his virginity. Similarly in the song “Like a virgin.” Madonna sings about being lost, incomplete and sad and blue until she found her lover. This reminded me of how sad and confused Daphnis was before he met Lycaenion and she helped him through learning the process of love-making and giving him the tools he needed to be happy with Chloe. It seems both songs outline how scary a new experience like sex can be for a virgin and it is imperative to have someone who you feel comfortable with to help guide the experience.
However, In Madonna’s song it is inferred that she is in love with the subject of the song and that is why she feels like a virgin. Whereas, in “Daphnis and Chloe” Lycaenion is actually married and Daphnis’s heart is already taken by Chloe. This outlines the fact that in “Daphnis and Chloe” The art of love-making in this instance is more of a teaching moment while in Madonnas instance it is more of a showcase of love and affection. Both pieces of art do show that without guidance feeling like a virgin who does not have a lot of information on love, or sex can be exciting but also confusing and not straight forward.
Ancient Text Excerpt:
After Daphnis had sat by her, kissed her, lain down with her in his arms, Lycanenion could tell that he was able for love-making and all athrob with desire; so she made him raise himself a little from where he lay on his side, slid her body expertly under his, and guided him into the road which had eluded him till then. After that she didn’t bother to do anything exotic- there was no need, because Nature herself taught him how to complete the act.
(Longus, Daphnis and Chloe page 54, 18)
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