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The Floral and the Human

  • Peggy McCracken (author)
Chapter of: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral: Ethics and Objects(pp. 65–90)

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Metadata
TitleThe Floral and the Human
ContributorPeggy McCracken (author)
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.21983/P3.0006.1.05
Landing pagehttps://punctumbooks.com/titles/animal-vegetable-mineral-ethics-and-objects/
Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
CopyrightMcCracken, Peggy
Publisherpunctum books
Published on2012-05-07
Long abstractIn twelfth-century versions of the Roman d’Alexandre, among the many curious beings Alexander the Great encounters during his exploration of India, we find a group of floral-human beings.1 After many days in the desert, Alexander and his men come to a forest and they see there a maiden sitting at the base of every tree. The forest provides for the maidens—whatever they might wish for in the morning, they receive by evening. The flower maidens are somehow bonded to the sheltering wood. They will die if they leave the shadow of its trees. When winter comes, they disappear into the ground, and when the summer returns with warm weather, they are reborn as white flowers. The flowers hold the maidens’ human form and the petals become dresses for the women. When Alexander and his men arrive in the forest, the flower maidens welcome them eagerly. There is nothing these maidens love more than men, the text tells us, and Alexander’s men have never seen more beautiful women.2 Indeed, Alexander is “troubled” (effreés, l. 3367) by the sight of such beautiful creaturesand he declares that he and his army will stay with them for four days. When his men enter the forest, the maidens receive them without hesitation. Each chooses a soldier, and encourages him to pursue his desires.
Page rangepp. 65–90
Print length26 pages
LanguageEnglish (Original)
Contributors

Peggy McCracken

(author)