Eurydice

Vuong retells myths from ancient Greek and Rome throughout his first collection Night Sky with Exit Wounds. "Eurydice" references the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The myth appeared in the works of some of the most famous ancient thinkers and storytellers, such as Plato, Ovid, and Virgil.

Across different versions, Orpheus bewitched everyone with his incredible musical skills, especially his future wife, the nymph Eurydice. Nymphs helped run the natural world, often symbolizing the sea or the fields. She was not the only divine being in the couple. Orpheus's skills partially came from his parents: a muse of the arts and either the god Apollo or a king.

The loving marriage ended soon after it began. Eurydice suffered a fatal snake bite on their wedding day. Heartbroken, Orpheus traveled to the underworld to rescue her. He sang about his sorrow and love to Hades and Persephone, the co-rulers of the dead. His performance convinced them to revive Eurydice. However, there was a catch. Hades and Persephone would not instantaneously teleport Orpheus and Eurydice back to the surface. Instead, the young couple must leave with Orpheus leading the way. He cannot look back to see if Eurydice followed. If he looked back before they both reached Earth, she would remain dead and in the underworld.