Tithonus : Characters
Tithonus is a notable literary work by Alfred Lord Tennyson. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Tithonus.
Characters
Tithonus: Tithonus is the main speaker and narrator of the poem. He was a mortal prince of Troy in Greek mythology. The goddess of dawn, Eos (Aurora), fell in love with him because of his great beauty. She asked Zeus to make him immortal. But she forgot to ask for eternal youth. As a result, Tithonus kept aging but could not die. He became weak, tired, and wrinkled, but lived forever. In the poem, Tithonus speaks with deep sadness. He remembers his past beauty and love. Now, he only wishes for death and peace. His character shows the pain of being outside the natural law of life.
Eos (Aurora): Eos is the goddess of dawn in Greek mythology. Every day, she comes from the East before sunrise. In the poem, she is loving and beautiful. She truly loves Tithonus. She gives him the gift of immortality. She asks Zeus to grant him immortality.
But she makes a tragic mistake. She forgets to ask for eternal youth. So, while she remains young and fresh forever, Tithonus grows old beside her. In the poem, Eos appears silently in the background, glowing with beauty. She sometimes weeps for Tithonus, but cannot undo the gift. Her presence represents divine beauty, eternal youth, and tragic love.
Zeus: Zeus is the king of the Greek gods. Though he does not appear directly in the poem, he plays an important role in the backstory. Eos requests immortality for Tithonus from Zeus, and he grants it. But as the poem says, “The Gods themselves cannot recall their gifts.” This means Zeus cannot take back what he gave, even if it causes suffering. His presence is a reminder of fate and the unchangeable will of the gods.