It always takes longer, sometimes it seems infinitely longer, to prepare for a battle than when it actually takes off. The bullfight is like war in every aspect, including the sound of its fatal moment. Three clarion notes, and the slashing, the attacking, the killing begin, two forcefield charged to their maximum.
The bull represents different things in different cultures, but all has fascinating tales. Europa's gorgeous white bull to her, and to everyone represents passion, transformation,virility, strength. We know that the bull was actually Zeus in disguise, indeed, but the fact that the king of gods chose the bull as his animal embodiment, clearly suggested the kind of image a bull can project. It's majestic, a monarch amongst the herbivores to be sure. In other words, if a bull is onto you and he wants to kill you, it's purely for emotional motivation and purpose, he does't even want to eat you. So don't ever mess with that family.
Like a gladiatore the matador stumbles his way around the beast, teasing and trying and giving a show. How much fear must he have endured! It's an enclosed space, yet a perfect metaphor of the survival of the fittest. It seems a chaotic and primal fight, yet every single step, every movement is calculated, given much thought, one side manipulation the other, and vice versa, and eventually neither could walk out intact. For the matador, it's also an emotional torture.
Some 100 years after Lord Byron's time, 1926 to be specific, Hemingway described another bullfight in The Sun Also Rises, this time in Pampona during the Festival of San Fermin. Full house every night, featuring minor bullfighters and gallant horses, it's a tradition, or an addiction of human race. Why else do you think action films will always be blockbusters and enjoy killer box office? Men always feel good about themselves then they are proven to be conquerors of nature, even if the cost is more than the reward.
This action packed stanza described the process of the fight right to the moment as the bull gave up. It's all very sudden just as its sudden start. You can almost see the flashing red mantle, the darts sticking out of the bull's body which bloodstreams across his skin, the glistening sword in the matador's hand...
The bull's ear is bestowed to the winner. It's similar to the golden fleece I suppose, although much bloodier and more symbolic. It's a useless piece of meat from your victim! What good is that for? It's a silent death after much celebrated and expected struggle. It's a show, with equal likelihood of survival and death, at least on the surface.
Again, it's a show, attracting men and women alike. Men are envious of, women smitten by the glorious matadors, only a silent death is the cost.
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