Breaking the Silence: Io and Philomela in Ovid's Metamorphoses

Abstract

This paper, which serves as the introduction to the volume, suggests that stories of ancient Roman women shattering the curtain of silence that surrounds them can be repurposed to support contemporary women's struggle to make their voice heard. In particular, the tales of Io and Philomela in Ovid's Metamorphoses can be used to amplify the powerful message of the recently developed Me Too movement, as they show that women victim of sexual assault can reaffirm their identity and reclaim their role in the community by speaking up and denouncing the violence they have suffered.