"Coming, Aphrodite" unfolds the lives of Don Hedger, a devoted artist, and Eden Bower, an aspiring singer. Their paths cross in a New York apartment building, leading to a complex relationship influenced by ambition and artistry. As the story progresses, themes of love, art, and personal fulfillment are explored through the lens of these two characters.

Don Hedger: A Solitary Artist

Don Hedger, a gifted but reclusive painter, resides in a modest top-floor apartment overlooking Washington Square. His life is marked by a singular focus on his art, with only his English bulldog, Caesar, for companionship. Caesar, fierce and protective, echoes Hedger's own intense personality, diligently guarding his privacy. Despite not pursuing commercial success, Hedger achieves personal satisfaction in his work, occasionally coming close to wider recognition but choosing to retreat instead.

Enter Eden Bower

Hedger's tranquil routine is disrupted by the arrival of Eden Bower, a striking young woman from the West, who moves into the apartment next door. Eden’s ambition is to hone her singing talents in Paris. While Hedger initially hears her singing, he quickly dismisses her presence, as he often does when engrossed in his painting. However, upon meeting Eden, he is captivated by her beauty. His fascination deepens when he inadvertently discovers a peephole in the wall, giving him a view into Eden's apartment, where he observes her engaging in gymnastic exercises, bathed in sunlight.

The Artist's Obsession

The vision of Eden’s nude form exercising becomes a source of artistic inspiration and obsession for Hedger. He perceives her with the eyes of an artist, capturing her beauty and vitality in his mind as if she were a divine figure. The scene evokes mythological imagery, reminiscent of Zeus’s golden shower, adding layers of sensual and symbolic complexity. Hedger finds himself unable to focus on his painting, consumed by his thoughts of Eden.

A Day at Coney Island

Hedger and Eden's friendship blossoms, and they embark on a trip to Coney Island, where they witness a daring balloon ascent performed by a friend of Hedger. Eden is so taken with the spectacle that she arranges her own ascent without Hedger’s knowledge. Though initially furious at her reckless behavior, Hedger is entranced by the sight of Eden descending gracefully from the sky, likening her to a "slowly falling silver star." This act of daring sets the stage for a charged atmosphere between them.

The Ancient Tale of Desire

Over dinner, Hedger shares an ancient Aztec tale, "The Forty Lovers of the Queen," with Eden. The story centers on a queen with divine powers of fertility and an insatiable appetite for lovers, whose lives are sacrificed to sustain her gifts. Her downfall comes when she attempts to spare one lover, resulting in her own death and a consequent drought. The myth parallels Eden and Hedger's relationship, with Eden embodying a similar sense of primal, transcendent sexuality. Following this exchange, the two become lovers, symbolically shedding their individual identities to become one.

Artistic and Emotional Conflict

Despite their passionate connection, tension arises when Eden seeks to advance Hedger's career, enlisting the help of Burton Ives, an established yet conventional artist whose views Hedger despises. Feeling betrayed by Eden's misunderstanding of his artistic ideals, Hedger retreats to Long Beach, distancing himself from their relationship. He eventually returns, drawn back by Eden's allure, only to find she has departed for Paris with a wealthy patron supporting her singing career. Hedger is left to grapple with solitude and the dedication to his art that now seems inevitable.

Years of Transformation

Two decades later, Eden returns as a celebrated opera singer, heralded by the...