Daphne — Summary

Daphne herself speaks in Millay’s retelling, turning a story of pursuit and fear into something sharp and playful. Apollo is chasing her, but she warns him that she can escape at any moment by becoming a laurel tree. She even imagines leaving only a pink branch behind for him to clutch. The tone is not tragic or terrified; she sounds almost amused, daring him to keep following. In the myth, her transformation is a desperate last resort, but Millay gives her a voice that relishes the escape. She is not a victim; she is the one setting the terms. The final command, “to heel, Apollo!” reduces the god to a dog and flips their power dynamic completely. The mood is quick, witty, and triumphant, full of movement and clever defiance rather than sorrow.