Week 3 Story: Cupid and Psyche
Cupid and Psyche
Bibliography: The Golden Ass by Apuleius myth-folklore-unit-apuleiuss-cupid-and.html
Psyche was the most beautiful women across the heavens. People came from near and far to see her beauty. Many people asked for her hand in marriage but her father did not think anyone was worthy of his daughters hand in marriage. He was very protective and wanted the best for his daughter. Psyche got a letter and it came from a man named Cupid. He said he wanted her hand in marriage. He was known to best most fair looking man in the heavens. He invited her to come to his palace in his letter. She wanted to meet him but knew her father would not accept.
Psyche told her father and as expected her said no. So she decided to sneak away in the middle of the night to go to the palace. She arrived and was stunned by the beauty and extravagance of the place. She was let in and taken to a room. It was very dark. The man came in and told her that he would not allow Psyche to see him. He wanted her to love him for what was on the inside. She stayed the night there and started to second guessing her decision.
Meanwhile her father realized she was gone and was furious. He knew his daughter had ran away. He began searching for her.
Psyche and Cupid spent much time together. She was impressed by his kind heart and ability to make her feel loved so she started to fall for him, without seeing his face.
Her father was still on the search and finally came up to the palace. He wandered in and heard Psyche's voice so he knew this was the place. He came in and stole Cupid away going far and going fast. Psyche was distraught by what her father did and knew she had to go find them. She went searching day and night and they were nowhere to be found.
Her father was making Cupid do many chores and making him slave away for stealing his daughter away. Cupid tried to assure him that he was in love with his daughter but he would not listen. Her father got very angry and hurt Cupid badly and left him laying there unconscious. Psyche continued to search and finally came across Cupid laying there unconscious. She was heart broken and gave him a kiss for the first time. He came awake and she was so delighted to finally see his face. She explained to her father how much she loved him and how genuine he was. Her father agreed to let them get married. They had a huge ceremony inviting everyone from the land and they lived an amazing life together.
Authors note: This spinoff came from the original Cupid and Psyche story. This story is very similar but in the original Cupids mother Venus is very jealous of Psyche's beauty and doesn't want her to find love. So Venus ends up capturing Psyche and makes her do lots of tasks. Psyche completes all of them but it is still not good enough for Venus so Venus leaves her unconscious and Cupid finds her to restore her back to life. If you would like to read more my previous two blog posts are a summary of this story.
Source: Cupid & Psyche
Hi Sophie!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I was blown away at Psyche's father kidnapping Cupid. I understand why he did in the interest of recreating the story, but I also wonder what Psyche's father thought he would accomplish by kidnapping Cupid. If he wanted to break them up, wouldn't it be easier for him to take his daughter? He eventually wants Psyche and Cupid separated, but wouldn't he want his daughter by his side instead of Cupid? You still have to go get your daughter later, man!
I'm confused by the father's motivations. I understand that he wants the best for his daughter, but his actions don't seem to really help much by rejecting anyone that is interested in his daughter. Is there a reason for this attitude? Has someone hurt his daughter in the past, and he doesn't want her to feel that heartbreak ever again? I also noticed that a mother is not mentioned in the story. Did he experience some kind of heartbreak, or go through some kind of divorce that hurt him mentally and emotionally, and is trying to prevent his daughter from going through the same pain?
Nonetheless, great job on this story!
Sophie,
ReplyDeleteI love the reversal that you enacted here! It was interesting to see Cupid be the one who was kidnapped and abused by her father before finally being rescued by Psyche. One thing that I would have loved to have seen (even in the original) was more of a romantic interaction between Cupid and Psyche. It would be interesting for you to include some of their dialogue and what they would say to one another in your story. Awesome job!