Venus

Venus (VEE-nuhs) stands as the embodiment of love and beauty, characterized by her voluptuous nature and fervent passion. She ardently desires the affection of the young Adonis, unabashedly pursuing him with vigorous attentions. Her intense desire only amplifies in response to his reserved and sullen demeanor. A proficient rhetorician, Venus engages in eloquent oratory to persuade Adonis of the vital role of fertility. Her eloquence is matched by her vivid and poetic depictions of the English countryside and the art of hunting. The depth of her grief at Adonis' demise mirrors the intensity of her love. While some scholars argue she symbolizes an allegorical Platonic figure, most readers perceive her as an erotic creation.

Adonis

Adonis (uh-DON-ihs) is portrayed as a reticent yet strikingly handsome young hunter. The lavish affections of Venus only drive him towards a state of obstinate sullenness. Despite his reticence, Adonis is also skilled in rhetoric and responds to Venus' advances with pointed rebukes of her lustful behaviors. However, his tenderhearted nature becomes evident as he softens notably when Venus faints. Although he remains steadfast in his decision to pursue boar hunting, this decision ultimately leads to his tragic demise. For those who interpret the narrative as a reflection of the Renaissance ideal of love, Adonis resonates with the fair young man depicted in sonnets, with his death serving as a consequence of his dismissal of love and beauty, and his subsequent failure to perpetuate his lineage.