Narcissus delights only in perceiving one aspect of himself in another. In reality, the curse simply extends that aspect of Narcissus to an unbearable degree. This obsession with his personal being proves to be his undoing. Under the curse, Narcissus remains true to his identity. Even while pining in miserably desperate fashion, Narcissus states (rather pretentiously) that “It cannot be my appearance or my age that makes you want to avoid me; even the nymphs wanted to possess me!” (114). Narcissus falls so in love with himself that he doesn't even seem to notice the absurdity of his love. Obviously, the image inside the pool is Narcissus' reflection, but he doesn't seem to understand this simple fact. Every moment she steps into the pool to embrace her elusive lover, the image fades and distorts (much to her dismay). Narcissus, in fact, is so delirious that he even states that "my pain is greater because we are not divided by expanses of ocean, endless roads, mountains or walls with impassable doors. All that keeps us apart is a thin line of water” (114). Obviously, a thin line of water does not separate Narcissus from his reflection. In reality, much more than this is separating the “couple”. Narcissus, recognizing that the reflection is only an image, however pleasant, will never be able to do so