Cupid and Psyche

Trust! A large factor in the love and adventure myth of Cupid and Psyche. The story told by Apuleius of Cupid and Psyche is that of two people, Cupid a god, and Psyche, a mortal, who fall in love, but because of certain circumstances are separated. Even though they get set apart from each other, love is the greater force and the two are destined to be together.

On a natural level, Cupid is the god of love. By the simplest prick of one of his arrows, one would fall madly in love. Psyche on the other hand was mortal, but was very beautiful. Some men say her beauty could surpass that of Venus herself. This angered Venus and she sought help from her son Cupid. She ordered him to use his power to make Psyche fall madly in love with a horrible, ugly creature. Cupid agrees, but when his eyes first lay upon Psyche it is love at first sight. Because of Psyche’s beauty, Cupid cannot carry out the horrible deed. Psyche never fell in love. Instead, men just came to gaze and worship then move on the marry someone else.

Meanwhile, Psyche’s father was ordered to place her on a hill for her taking by a vile serpent. So it was done and she was set there unknowing of her terrible fate to come. Time passes and no serpent came. Instead, she was carried off by Zephyr, a warm wind that moved her to a luscious field. Psyche fell asleep and awoke on a riverbank that passed in front of a temple fit for a god. Psyche, very curious, heard a voice that spoke to her throughout the day and welcomed her into the house, offered her food, and offered a bath. The voice gave Psyche an eerie, but very much welcomed companionship, maybe that of which a husband would give. That night, Psyche finally got her wish. Psyche felt the long desired touch of her husband climbing in bed. There was a twist though. Psyche never physically saw her husband, but only had the company of his voice during the day and his warmth at night when it was dark. Cupid counted on Psyche’s trust and told her that she must trust him and that if she did not, he would surely flee leaving Psyche forever.

Psyche longed to see her sisters and felt for their grief. Psyche begged Cupid to let her see them. After giving in, Psyche met with the sisters. Her sisters got jealous of the wonderful life their younger sister was living. They convinced her that maybe the reason she was never aloud to see him, because he was a monster. Psyche, overwhelmed with terror second-guessed her husband, she needed to see him. Losing trust in Cupid, she plotted to see her husband that night. When Cupid lay there asleep, Psyche crept up and lit a lamp. When she saw a beautiful young man laying there asleep she felt a streak of relief. However in doing so, Psyche spilled hot oil on Cupid. He awoke and fled, disappointed in losing the trust he had in Psyche. Psyche, disappointed in herself and in the loss of Cupid, whom she greatly cared for, realized what terrible thing she did was determined to get Cupid back, even if it ment searching for him for the rest of her life. So she sets off to go see Venus, Cupids mother. Venus is very upset and gives Psyche multiple almost impossible tasks to complete. Psyche goes to great measures for the one she loves and completes each task. Eventually, Cupid and Psyche are reunited and married. Psyche is made immortal and the love between the two was forever present.

The story of Cupid and Psyche is a great myth to read, and if you pick it apart it has many meanings hidden deep down. Next time you find yourself reading a myth, novel, or any other story, you should consider getting deeper into the story and evaluate it on the three levels of natural, social, and psychological. You may learn something new.