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| Cupid and Psyche by Bernard Lens (Wikimedia) |
- The story of Cupid and Psyche has a lot of common themes: divine punishment, jealousy, and a prohibition (from a husband to a new wife) that is ignored.
- The prohibition part of the story is the aspect that I've always found the most interesting. In many ways it reminds me of the Bluebeard story. In this case, Psyche is not only warned that she's not allowed to look at him, she is also warned that her sisters will attempt to trick her into doing so.
- Why was Psyche so easily duped? She is described as innocent throughout the story, but her actions aren't a result of innocence. They are the result of sheer stupidity.
- Even allowing that the desire to know cannot be overcome, once she had looked, why did she not immediately blow out the lamp. She puttered around, playing with things and attempting to make out with the person that she wants to stay asleep. Once again, sheer stupidity.
- This story could be retold in many ways: Psyche (or a similar character) could resist the urge to look. However, the need to know is understandable. In the Bluebeard story, the groom is a viscous murderer. It's better to have that knowledge than to not. Perhaps the best variation is to acknowledge how vital the need to know is, but have the heroine not be an idiot when getting the information she needs.
Bibliography: "Cupid and Psyche," The Golden Ass by Apuleius, trans. by Tony Kline. Web source.
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