Narcissus is only delighted to sense one aspect of himself in another. In reality, the curse simply expands this aspect of Narcissus to an unbearable extent. This obsession with his personal being proves to be his undoing. Under the curse, Narcissus remains true to his identity. Even while pining away in a miserably hopeless way, Narcissus declares (rather pretentiously) that “It can't be my looks or my age that makes you want to avoid me; even the nymphs wanted to possess me! (114). Narcissus becomes so in love with himself that he doesn't even seem to realize the absurdity of his love. Obviously the image inside the pool is Narcissus' own reflection, but he doesn't seem to understand this simple fact. Every moment he reaches into the pool to kiss his elusive lover, the image fades and distorts (much to his dismay). In fact, Narcissus becomes so delusional that he even declares that "my pain is all the greater because we are not divided by expanses of ocean, endless roads, mountains or walls with impassable gates." All that separates us is a thin line of water” (114). Obviously, a thin line of water does not separate Narcissus from his reflection. In fact, there is much more than that that separates the “couple”. Recognizing that the reflection is only an image, albeit a pleasant one, Narcissus will never be able to