Pyramus and Thisbe: Dark & Death Imagery

The final lines of Pyramus and Thisbe aptly conclude the darkness and death imagery that Ovid had developed throughout the narrative. When looking back at the story, there are many different images which Ovid incorporates in the story. One of the earliest examples could be found in lines 78-80, which say "sub noctem dixere," which starts up the two lovers' relationship. They would constantly talk to each other through the wall until nighttime would fall upon them. It was also the time of day which they would plan to meet with each other. This brings up the question of whether or not the darkness should be seen as a friend or foe. But if you look at line 108 where Pyramus states "one night will destroy two lovers," it suggests that the nighttime was where death occurred. Even in lines 160 to 161, Thisbe had said "signa tene caedis pullosque et luctubus aptos semper habe fetus, gemini monimenta cruois." This also plays into the fact that darkness should correspond to death, and the dark fruit of the mulberry tree symbolizes the two lovers dying for their love. The final lines which say that the fruit will turn dark with age could be taken as a metaphor for death coming to purity and innocence, since the fruit of the tree starts off a pure white. Also, the fact that the two lovers are together in one urn show that in death they are brought together. This contradicts the idea that darkness is a foe to Pyramus and Thisbe, since the only way they were able to be together was through death. However, the final lines do fit appropriately with the story's darkness and death imagery for the fact that it can connect to the very beginning of the story.