So this story is actually a story within a story - a novel entitled Apuleis's Golden Ass. This is interesting because the first character we are introduced to is the narrator, Lucius, formerly a man, now a donkey. This is just accepted as fact at the beginning of the first episode of this narrative and no background information is given (Who turned this man into a donkey? Why?).
The fact that that this donkey anamagus is not central to the story ( the story within the story that is) acts as a precursor to the absurd events that are to take place in later episodes. As Lucius the donkey looks on from his recent position as pack mule to a band of robbers, the band takes captive a young woman just as she is about to marry. The young woman is understandably distressed. Really, this isn't the most exciting story as far as this reading goes, but I found the plot development in this story (and the two following) very interesting. These stories include the introduction of the story within the story and have nothing to do with the actual story of Cupid and Psyche (as far as I know at this point)
Okay. So fast forward a bit. We're now in the middle of the actual story of Cupid and Psyche. To summarize what has happened up to this point, Psyche, because of her unworldly beauty, has been cursed by a jealous Venus to fall in love, at the hands of her son, Cupid, with some vile creature unworthy of such beauty. Venus bids Cupid do the deed, but Cupid takes pity on her (and is also most likely taken with her beauty.) Meanwhile, it has been prophesied that Psyche will meet her husband, a horrible creature, on top of a mountain. Not wanting to displease the gods, Psyche's parents leave her there to await her husband. She is swept away to a magical palace and joined by an unseen husband, who we know to be Cupid, but Psyche is clueless. Cupid warns her to never inquire about his appearance or he will have to leave her.
I really like this story because it serves as a nod to human nature in terms of both jealousy and the tendency we have not to accept the advise of others. Cupid senses danger coming at the hands of Psyche's two older sisters who have presumed Psyche to be dead. He warns her against having any interaction with them at all but Psyche refuses to listen, lamenting the suffering of her sisters. Psyche's sisters do eventually prove to be Psyche's undoing, just as Cupid warned.
Venus and the Goddesses
My favorite part of this story is that this is the point at which Venus essentially loses her cool (only to have it returned at the end of the story.) At this point of the Cupid and Psyche Saga, Psyche has been left by her dear husband because she chanced a look at his face while he was asleep at the suggestion of her envious sisters. Filled with grief at her loss, wanders, looking for her lost husband. Meanwhile Venus hatred for Psyche is further magnified at the knowledge of her son's betrayal. Remember when I said she loses her cool? Turns out this is a gross understatement. Venus heaps threat upon threat, and curse upon curse upon the disloyal Cupid and all he can really do is listen. The rant itself makes up the majority of this episode and is almost humorous in its vehemence and lack of rationality.
Venus and Mercury
Psyche, through all of this, is aware of Venus' personal vendetta against her (In the episode Psyche's Prayer, Psyche seeks in the vain the help of the goddesses Juno and Ceres who, though moved by her reverence for the gods even in her despair, remain loyal to Venus) and has just about resolved to give herself up hoping to assuage Venus' fury in this way. Meanwhile, Venus has gone to Mercury, messenger to the gods, to ask him to announce a reward for the capture and deliverance of the elusive Psyche. Basically, the entire male population of Olympus turns on Psyche at the prospect of seven kisses delivered by Venus herself. I believe this story serves to demonstrate how people (not necessarily just men) are driven to evil by the most trifling of desires.
The Jar of Beauty
You'd think Psyche would have learned something from her past misfortune...Okay, so at this point in the story, Psyche has been turned over to the vengeful Venus. Venus, in addition to physically abusing the poor girl, keeps setting her to what she calls "impossible" tasks - tasks which are either Psyche should be simply unable to perform, or will be killed in the process (see stories Venus and Psyche, Psyche's Next Task, and The Third Task). Psyche completes them all with the help of the world around her, which has taken pity on her suffering. Venus, infuriated by Psyche's resilience, sets Psyche on one final task - to go down to the Underworld and retrieve a jar of Proserpine's beauty
Psyche is given a complicated set of instructions by a castle turret concerning how to retrieve the jar without becoming trapped in the Underworld for good. The last of these instructions is this: whatever you do, don't open the jar! Psyche manages to get herself in and out of the Underworld with the jar of beauty given to her by the goddess of the Underworld herself. She is in the clear - or so it would appear. Once again, despite the warning of those more knowledgeable than she, Psyche finds herself led by her curiosity to open the jar. This is a nod at the destructive nature of curiosity (you know what they say about curiosity!) which is an important theme throughout this reading.
These were my favorite readings from this unit. The main themes in this reading were of the destructive forces of envy (illustrated by the goddess Venus and Psyche's jealous sisters) and the danger of uncurbed curiosity.
Note: After opening the jar of beauty, Psyche is overcome by the drought of sleep that was actually contained in the jar (go figure) but is quickly revived by Cupid. Cupid pleads with Zeus to allow him to officially marry Psyche. Zeus obliges, they marry, and everyone lives happily ever after. After the story is told, Lucius and the captive girl make their escape from the band of robbers who have enslaved them both.
Venus and the Goddesses
My favorite part of this story is that this is the point at which Venus essentially loses her cool (only to have it returned at the end of the story.) At this point of the Cupid and Psyche Saga, Psyche has been left by her dear husband because she chanced a look at his face while he was asleep at the suggestion of her envious sisters. Filled with grief at her loss, wanders, looking for her lost husband. Meanwhile Venus hatred for Psyche is further magnified at the knowledge of her son's betrayal. Remember when I said she loses her cool? Turns out this is a gross understatement. Venus heaps threat upon threat, and curse upon curse upon the disloyal Cupid and all he can really do is listen. The rant itself makes up the majority of this episode and is almost humorous in its vehemence and lack of rationality.
Venus and Mercury
Psyche, through all of this, is aware of Venus' personal vendetta against her (In the episode Psyche's Prayer, Psyche seeks in the vain the help of the goddesses Juno and Ceres who, though moved by her reverence for the gods even in her despair, remain loyal to Venus) and has just about resolved to give herself up hoping to assuage Venus' fury in this way. Meanwhile, Venus has gone to Mercury, messenger to the gods, to ask him to announce a reward for the capture and deliverance of the elusive Psyche. Basically, the entire male population of Olympus turns on Psyche at the prospect of seven kisses delivered by Venus herself. I believe this story serves to demonstrate how people (not necessarily just men) are driven to evil by the most trifling of desires.
The Jar of Beauty
You'd think Psyche would have learned something from her past misfortune...Okay, so at this point in the story, Psyche has been turned over to the vengeful Venus. Venus, in addition to physically abusing the poor girl, keeps setting her to what she calls "impossible" tasks - tasks which are either Psyche should be simply unable to perform, or will be killed in the process (see stories Venus and Psyche, Psyche's Next Task, and The Third Task). Psyche completes them all with the help of the world around her, which has taken pity on her suffering. Venus, infuriated by Psyche's resilience, sets Psyche on one final task - to go down to the Underworld and retrieve a jar of Proserpine's beauty
These were my favorite readings from this unit. The main themes in this reading were of the destructive forces of envy (illustrated by the goddess Venus and Psyche's jealous sisters) and the danger of uncurbed curiosity.
Note: After opening the jar of beauty, Psyche is overcome by the drought of sleep that was actually contained in the jar (go figure) but is quickly revived by Cupid. Cupid pleads with Zeus to allow him to officially marry Psyche. Zeus obliges, they marry, and everyone lives happily ever after. After the story is told, Lucius and the captive girl make their escape from the band of robbers who have enslaved them both.
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