cupid and psyche as an Allegory

In this story, Cupid has been associated with desire and Psyche is connected with the soul. So, in this story there are many points where what Apuleius is saying has relevance to humans.

One example is when Apuleius explains how Psyche is so beautiful that no one has the courage to talk to her. In chapter 2 lines 6-7, Psyche mentions how she hates her own beauty because she is put in such isolation because she is so outrageously gorgeous. This relates to our life because as humans, we tend to put certain people and objects up on pedestals because we value the appearance of them or think they deserve that much reverence. We tend to desire to see Psyche but not actually talk to her. Yet, Psyche ends up feeling all alone in the world because everyone thinks she is a god and they are not good enough to talk to her. They are all intimidated by her looks to even attempt to communicate with her.

Also, when Psyche is put on the mountaintop to "reveal her fate" as it said in Apollo's oracle, she is very scared about what will happen to her. In chapter 2 lines 33-35, she describes her feelings and they involve words such as "paventem" and "trepidam". This goes along with this story being an allegory because her timid ways represent the fact that everyone is afraid sometimes and in life, there are going to be times when you are scared. But, Zephyrus helps her out in an unexpected way by carrying her to a place she least expected; he let her go into a house filled with gold and plenty of food.

In chapter 3 lines 9-10, Psyche is looking at this beautiful place she was taken to and there were treasures and no locks and no guards and no chains. This figuratively represents the place that she can go where there is no fear. She wont have to worry about anything here because all these treasures are around and no one is guarding them. It is here where she feels safe.

In the reading when we read the chapters in English, chapter 4 on page 114 included a section about how the sisters had "rancorous jealousy." This can be another example of how this story is an allegory because they could represent the people that will try to push you down in life while you are trying to accomplish your goals. Psyche is faced with the sisters and they try and succeed to persuade her to try and find out who her husband is because they are jealous. Therefore, the sister's allude to the representation of struggles and hardships that could come your way when you are getting what everyone wants: true love. This is shown in the opposite of love, jealousy. And this leads to her doubting herself with Cupid and in chapter 8 lines 6-7, Psyche decides to see who her husband is against his wishes because she begins to be curious. The shining of the light on Cupid goes along with the fact that we are naturally curious beings.

Then in chapter 8 lines 32-34, Psyche tries to kill herself in the stream, but this "mitis fluvius" is put in this story to show that although we may want to give up when things arent going our way, nature guides you to doing the right thing. This river was too gentle and she ended up not drowning. This is part of the allegory because the river represents the "mother nature" that helps us along our journey of life and keep her soul alive and Psyche did not finish what she was set out to do so the river helped her keep going.

A few more examples of how this story has the elements of an allegory are when Jupiter is giving a speech in chapter 12 and in lines 29-32, he mentions how Cupid has hurt his image by making him turn into a snake, a bird and cattle. This shows that Apuleius includes allegories because even the GOD OF GODS has no power over love. This shows that love is THAT strong to not even be refused by the god of gods because it is an emotion that resides in all of us, even the most high of people. And in the end, Apuleius concludes that Psyche turns into a god and that takes her soul and Cupid's desire and a new daughter of the gods was born and her name was pleasure. This is the ultimate truth that the author was trying to show us that pleasure can be found because our souls connected with desire give us pleasure.