35 pages • 1 hour read
ApuleiusCupid and Psyche
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 170A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Literary Devices
Personification
Personification is one of the chief literary devices that contributes to meaning in “Cupid and Psyche.” Personification can work in two ways: by assigning a person to exemplify a quality or idea, or by attributing human qualities to inanimate objects. Zephyr, the West Wind, is an example of personification. He possesses a human consciousness and obeys orders to carry people about on a breeze. The reed, the ant, the eagle, and the speaking tower, all of which help Psyche with her tasks, are examples of personification in that they possess the power of speech and the ability to comprehend the human world.
Venus’s household is staffed by maidservants who represent various qualities, among them Habit, who greets Psyche at the door, along with Melancholy and Sorrow, who obey Venus’s instructions to torture Psyche. Animals like the speaking sea bird keep the gods informed of doings in the human world but also represent the system of Roman belief, which assigned a divine spirit to all manner of objects and elements. Cupid and Psyche’s daughter is, as signaled by her name, a personification of the pleasure that is to be found in mutual, devoted love.
Allegory
An allegory uses symbolic characters to act out abstract ideas or principles. Whereas personification ascribes human attributes to an entity, an allegory typically presents a larger story in which the events signify a broader or deeper message about some aspect of human existence. Given that the gods and spirits of Greek and Roman mythology represent and govern aspects of human existence like love, war, marriage, and death, stories about them lend themselves easily to allegory.
The characters in “Cupid and Psyche” have long been interpreted by what their names are associated with; Cupid and Venus represent types of love, for example. If the beautiful princess Psyche is a personification of the human soul, then the allegory of her story describes how love helps the soul evolve until its eventual ascension to the realm of the immortal, where one might experience perfect happiness.
The Frame Narrative
The “story within a story” was a popular device in ancient Greek and Roman literature, powerful for the way it allows the author to illustrate, emphasize, or elaborate on different themes. In The Metamorphoses, the story of “Cupid and Psyche” is told by an old woman to a young girl who fears she will never be reunited with her young husband. The fable of love triumphing over obstacles is meant to soothe the anxious girl.
More largely, the themes of transformation, love, and the penalties for curiosity found in “Cupid and Psyche” resonate throughout The Metamorphoses. At the end of the novel, Lucius reverts to his human form thanks to the intercession of the goddess Isis. He too has survived many obstacles and achieves his goal with the help of the gods.
Many medieval writers, inspired by The Metamorphoses, used a frame narrative to similar effect. Famous examples are Bocaccio’s Decameron and The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. In these works, as the characters listen to and comment on one another’s stories, they wrestle with philosophical and moral questions and hold lively debates about the nature and power of human experiences like love, parenthood, and grieving.
Foil
A foil is a character that acts as a contrast to the protagonist, most often to emphasize their strengths or weaknesses and sometimes to help them progress on their journey. Venus acts as a foil to Psyche in that her angry demeanor and vengeful behavior contrast with Psyche and test her resolve to win back her lover. Her jealousy and capriciousness contrast with Psyche’s devotion.
Cupid and Venus can also be read as foils in that Cupid’s nurturing, protective love for Psyche stands in opposition to the selfish, jealous love that Venus demonstrates. Both characters work to illustrate differing aspects of the human emotion of love.
Psyche’s sisters are her foils in that their behavior shows a different dimensions of filial love. The sisters lie to their parents, become jealous of Psyche, covet her riches, and abandon their husbands. Their selfish behavior serves to make Psyche look more devoted, selfless, and loyal in comparison.
