Week 3 Storytelling: Psyche and Cupid

Psyche was born to a rather wealthy family. She was the youngest of three daughters, and the apple of her father’s eye. She and her sisters were very close and spent every moment of every day together. They would brush each others hair and tell tales of princes and princesses with each of them dreaming they would one day find their prince. 

As the girls grew older they started to look less like children and more like young women. Psyche’s two older sisters were lovely and drew the eyes of many when they went out; however, when Psyche started to reach womanhood, the eyes quickly shifted from the sisters to Psyche. Her beauty was unmatched. She was as lovely as a rose. Psyche’s sisters noticed that eyes no longer lingered over them, but their younger sister. Resentment started to build in them from the attention their younger sister was receiving. All people noticed Psyche’s beauty and would comment on it, and her sisters were left to watch. As Psyche grew older and more beautiful, the envy and resentment grew in her sisters as well.

 As she became more and more beautiful, more and more people noticed and word spread of the unmatched beauty of a girl that is the human form of Venus herself. People traveled far and wide to come see and bring sacrifices to the beautiful girl that was a gorgeous as Venus herself. As word spread, Venus soon took notice and became enraged that the humans were worshiping a mere human rather than she. As more humans started worshiping Psyche, Venus ordered Cupid, her son, to follow Psyche and watch her to find her weakness.

Cupid watched Psyche and observed her from the skies. Many people would come and bring her offerings. Some would bring her all they owned begging her make them loved and beautiful to all, but she would refuse the offerings and instead give them kind words of encouragement and inspiration. Cupid noticed her caring and kind nature and was curious how such a beautiful human could be so humble and filled with love for others. This fascinated him. As he watched her, he saw more of her compassion toward all humans, creatures, and plants alike. He noticed she poured out so much love in everyone she encountered, but never received any love from others. Even with all the people coming to see her, she felt more alone than ever. No man would take her to be his because her beauty was incomparable, and all the men felt they would fall short of such expectations. Her sisters had also gotten to where they refused to speak to her.

As time passed, Psyche’s sisters got married and moved away to their husbands’ homes. Psyche was saddened that she had no suitor, and no one would give her a chance at marriage. Cupid could feel her sadness from where he watched. He went back to Venus to report to her his findings. She ordered Cupid to find someone to make her fall in love with. Then Venus would take Psyche’s love away from her and cause her such distress, she would die of sadness and loneliness.

Upon these orders Cupid finally realized the fondness he had developed for Psyche. He couldn’t bear to see her with some other man then to see her dying of devastation when that man was taken from her. He contemplated what he should do for days. Then he came up with a brilliant idea. He would disguise himself as a human, and she would fall in love with the human him. As the sun was rising, he watched Psyche get up and get ready to go get water from the well. He decided he would disguise himself as a human traveling through that are that had been thrown from his horse and was badly injured. He would place himself on her way to the well so he couldn’t miss him. He knew she was so kind and caring she would never leave him there but make sure he was cared for. When she saw him lying on the path in pain, she knew she had to take him to her house where he could be cared for. She took care of him for the next few weeks as his broken arm and leg healed. As she nursed him back to health, they grew closer often spending much time together. He was soon almost healed back to health and the time for him to leave neared, she realized she had developed feelings for this traveler and she couldn’t bear to see him leave. 

The day arrived for Cupid to leave, and he was getting ready to return to his home, Psyche came to him and declared she would rather die than live without him. Cupid was overjoyed. His love for her had only increased since he had spent more time with her. He proposed she come with him and they could be together forever. She wanted nothing more. She immediately agreed. Then he realized he couldn’t life as a human forever and he had to tell her his true identity. When he told her, she was in shock and felt lied to. He explained what he was sent to do and how he had loved her from the beginning. She was flattered and agreed to go back to the skies with him and be his wife. Cupid said he would need to form alliances with some gods in order to help keep her safe from Venus’ vengeance, but he would come back for her and no harm would come to her. He returned a few days later after convincing Venus to accept Psyche as his wife. Psyche went with Cupid to the skies and they lived happily together. 

 

Psyche and Cupid 

Author's Note: I read the love story of "Psyche and Cupid". Last week I had read a variation of this that one of my classmates had written, and I enjoyed reading it so much that I wanted to read the original story. I slightly varied the original story and shortened it. I think I liked the original better, but it was a fun story to write!

Reading Notes: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche-Part B

Today, I am continuing reading Part B of the love story of "Cupid and Psyche," which is an elaborate fairy tale contained within an ancient Roman novel, The Golden Ass, written by Apuleius and translated into English by Tony Kline.

Venus and the Goddesses: This part of the story picks up from Venus's point of view. Now I am starting to understand that Cupid did actually love Psyche, but Venus is trying to interfere and possibly harm or kill Psyche. I like that the story stops in a place that makes you want to keep reading.

Psyche's Prayer: It is sad that Psyche can't catch a break. No matter who she asks for help from, they all seem to turn her away.

 

Psyche and the Goddesses

Venus and Mercury: It is getting really interesting now. I can tell the story is coming to an end because Psyche is finally about to come face to face with Venus, the goddess that caused her all this anxiety in the first place. I like that Psyche finally decided to just face her fears and face Venus.

Venus and Psyche: I like how the ants see the Psyche is in trouble and saddened by her seemingly impossible task, and decide to help her finish it so she may receive the approval of Venus.

Psyche's Next Task: Again, Psyche is helped by an outside source that has pity on her. She is a kind and loving girl and it seems everyone except Venus can see that. 

The Third Task: Psyche is given a third impossible task by Venus. She of course will attempt to complete this task or die while trying. Psyche is a determined person and a caring soul. It can be seen by all the creatures that have aided her thus far. In the third task she is helped yet again in completing it. I really like that Psyche is helped when she needs it by others that aren't afraid of the consequences.

The Jar of Beauty: Again, Psyche is helped. I like that every time she attempts to end her life, something comes and helps her with her impossible task rather than letting her give up. I really am enjoying this story. I am not happy that Psyche seems to have lost sight of her goal and is contemplating taking some of the Divine Beauty for herself.

The Sleep of the Dead: I really like love stories. Fairy tales that have love involved are my favorite stories. That is kind of what this is, and it makes me happy to read it!

The Wedding Feast: The story actually ended happily! I really enjoy it when a story ends happy, and I can feel relief. I like reading so that I can escape the real world so reading a story that is sad and unhappy doesn't really meet those requirements. I had no idea the story was from a donkey's point of view.

The Escape: I don't like that the story didn't really end. I suppose there is more somewhere that I could read, but I really like it when a story has a solid ending like the one with Psyche and Cupid.

Reading Notes: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche-Part A

Last time I read a Biblical story series so this time I thought I would read something more Classical. I read the love story of "Cupid and Psyche," an elaborate fairy tale contained within an ancient Roman novel, The Golden Ass, written by Apuleius and translated into English by Tony Kline.

The Captive Woman: I liked that this story was a set up for the stories to come! I am a little confused right now about where the exact plot or story is going, but that makes the story more interesting. I am eager to keep reading more! I think the story will continue as I read and expand on each story as it goes.

Her Dream: I didn't really like this part that much because it was quite short and didn't have much content. There wasn't that much added to the story. It just set the background for the situation that is happening currently.

Psyche's Beauty and the Anger of Venus: I like that each of these stories is like a chapter in a chapter book. This one is the beginning of the fairy tale we're about to read. I really like the mythological aspects of these stories as well as how the Greek gods tie into the stories and interact with the human lives.

The Oracle of Apollo: I didn't quite understand everything that took place in that story. I do still like how they continue to build on each other. I also like the metaphors they use throughout the story even though they're pretty difficult for me to keep up with.

The Magical Palace: I like the details and description the author gives about the palace. It really makes me curious to see what is going on and where she is. I like that the reader is following the main character and experiencing things with her rather than knowing things she doesn't.

The Mysterious Husband: This was another addition to the story where she finally met her husband. I like the mystery that the story keeps the reader wondering what will happen next and not sure what to expect from the next chapter.

The Jealousy of Psyche's Sisters: This is where the conflict is experienced. The sisters are jealous and are not planning to ruin the life their youngest sister has acquired. I like how we see how miserable the young girl is and how the sisters only see envy.

Psyche's Husband Warns Her: I don't know whether or not to like the husband. I think it is Cupid, but I am not sure. It is interesting that her sisters so suddenly turn jealous and evil in the story. They were mourning their sister's death, but now want to be the ones to cause it.

Fears and Doubt: It is interesting to see what people are willing to do to people they love. This seems like it will be a bad ending for all parties involved.

Psyche's Husband Revealed: Finally Psyche gets to see her husband and it turns out he isn't a serpent, but a beautiful god. After seeing him she falls even more in love with him. I really like love stories, but I like it when they end happy. I think this is going to end sadly.

 

Psyche and Cupid

Psyche's Despair: I did not expect the story to take a turn like this. I was expecting Psyche to die, but instead her sisters die due to their own selfish desires.