Psyche and Amor, also known as Psyche Receiving Cupid's First Kiss (1798), by François Gérard: a symbolic butterfly hovers over Psyche in a moment of innocence poised before sexual awakening. Source: Source |
Reading Notes:
Originally from Metamorphoses, also known as "The Golden Ass", is a tale about overcoming love and the psyche. Although I enjoyed the entirety Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche, my favorite story by far was "Psyche's beauty" as it displayed a different aspect of the overarching narrative. I thought that the text was the most intriguing of the section, and to me, told the best part of the story. The story opens on an uplifting positive note, the story is one of absolute beauty of the highest regards, "In a certain city there lived a king and queen who had three daughters of surpassing beauty. Though the elder two were extremely pleasing, still it was thought they were only worthy of mortal praise, but the youngest girl’s looks were so delightful, so dazzling, no human speech in its poverty could celebrate them, or even rise to adequate description" (Apuleius). The story itself is incredibly extravagant and ornate, flashy style language that draws the reader in. I really enjoyed the story simply because of the mythology behind it. I never really understood the origins of Psyche and Cupid, I always knew about them as apart of the lore, but I never had looked far into it, or had learned their stories. It is so interesting and they always have a deeper meaning that can be applied to our society. There is always some greater takeaway that can be had from these types of stories, some sort of lesson that can be molded to fit the everyday person. Overall, I really enjoyed the stories in Part A of this section, I look forward to reading the second half of Apuleius's story on Psyche and Cupid, I think the story is a wonderful addition to the curriculum and I am glad that I got the chance to read up on the lore.
Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche: Source
Psyche's Beauty: Source
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