Cupid Kissing Psyche (1798)
By François Gérard (1770-1837)
Musée du Louvre, Paris
This story continues from story one (Aphrodite) using the same frametale.
I sat up on my elbows and shook my head. Man, what a ride! Had I really entered the painting or was it just an awkward dream? I thought about it for a moment and then decided the only way to find out was to stick my hand once more into a painting on the wall. I looked at all of them before deciding on the one of Eros and Psyche. Slowly, with one eye closed, I stuck out my hand and put it on the painting. Again, my hand sunk through and I felt a tug. I closed my eyes tight and allowed myself to be pulled in. When I opened them I was in a huge room. There were maids bustling about, cleaning. I was sitting right in front of a mirror, but it was not my reflection that stared back at me. I opened my eyes really big, but still there was a beautiful face with red lips and high cheekbones. At least my hair was the same color but there were less split ends. Where was I? Better yet, who was I? Then one of the maids spoke to me, “Psyche, quit staring in the mirror.” Psyche, who was she? I racked my brain to determine how Eros had a connection to Psyche. Then it hit me. I think they were lovers, but I hope I am wrong because that would mean I am dating a guy in a diaper. Moving up in the world. Yeah, right! I decided to play along and act like a character in a movie. I soon found out that I had two sisters who had married rich princes and I still remain unwed. Each time I went out in the village the people would give me gifts and bow at my feet. I do not know how I knew what to do or say but it all seemed so natural. I knew people’s names and occupations. I figured that I had Psyche’s knowledge and heart. One night I was in bed fast asleep when I felt something prick me in the side. I kicked and shot out of bed. All I know is that whatever stung must not have been fatal because I woke up the next morning. My parents were in my room demanding to know why the most beautiful had no husband. “Our Psyche needs to visit the oracle,” said my mother. My father agreed and so that afternoon I learned of Psyche’s fate.
Psyche Opening the Box
Author Unknown
TheRiverStyx.net
The oracle told her, me, that my husband would be extremely ugly and monstrous. I was told to go to the top of a mountain to meet my husband. What a crock! I was sent away to climb the mountain and wait. Time passed and there was no sign of him. I soon grew tired and fell asleep. When I woke, I was in a palace of gold. I looked around for a companion, for a monster, but I looked to no avail. Then I heard a voice say, “Psyche, we are your servants. You are not able to see us, but we are always here. Just call to us and we shall provide you with all that you could ever need.” Smiling, I thanked the voice. This was creepy, right out of a horror flick. So, I went to a room and took a bath before going to bed. That night I heard a sound in the dark. Kicking, I sprung out of bed and asked who was there. A magnificent, sexy voice answered me. “It is I, your husband.” I looked for a light because I wanted to know how ugly he was, but there was no light, lamp, or candle. He spoke again. “You will not find a light because there are none. Here is my one rule. Never must you see me. I will be here by night and gone by day. Never question this, but know my love for you is true.” I did not know to say because to me it sounded like nightly booty calls, but this was not my life. So, I agreed only reluctantly.
Cupid Lifting Psyche to the Heavens
Author Unknown
The next few months were magical, but lonely. My servants were cool, but the “Psyche” inside missed her family. So that night I asked my husband if my sisters could visit. He agreed and the next day they arrived. There were tears and hugs all around. My sisters and I had a blast, but then my husband became the topic of conversation. I did not have anything to tell them except that I was not able to look at his face. They told me to look, to hide a lamp, to see if he was a monster. I did not see why I needed to screw things up, but I was so curious. So, we said our good-byes and I hid the lamp in our bedroom. While he was sleeping I pulled a James Bond and snuck out of bed. I took the lamp to the bed and stared at his face. He was so beautiful! It was . . . no, it couldn’t be! It was Eros. Dang. I scored big or Psyche did. Man, did he have a body! What was I doing? I decided to get rid of the light, but he awoke and looked into my eyes before flying away with his white wings spread wide. I waited, but he did not return. I fell asleep and when I awoke my palace was gone. I felt a pain in my heart, Psyche’s heart. My mind immediately told me to go search for him. That morning I started my search and days later I ended up at the temple of Venus. Venus did not want to see me and was angry because I broke her son’s heart. She did not trust me, but decided to test me. I was put in a room with several different grains mixed together. “Separate them,” she said. My eyes grew wide. Was she kidding? When the door slammed I figured she was serious. I sat there until some ants came in and started separating the grains for me. My heart grew happy again. By morning when Venus returned, it was finished. Still, she was angry with me and believed that someone had aided in my success. If only she knew. Next she sent me to get samples of golden fleece from every sheep in the pasture. I was a king’s daughter who did not know how to get fleece other than by asking a servant, but I was determined to try. A voice told me to wait and gather scraps off of bark and bush. I did and when I returned to Venus she was even angrier than before. So, she sent me on another mission. I was to go to Persephone and bring back some of her beauty in a box. Travel to the underworld? You must be joking! So Psyche went, I went and made it there and back without one burn from the fierce flames of hell. I held the box, but, man, I was curious about its contents. I tried not to open it, but I could not resist. When I did, there was nothing inside. I must have fainted because the next thing I knew, Eros was helping me up and closing the box. He told me not to worry, that he would fix all. He flew off. When he returned he took me to the heavens. I remember closing my eyes to avoid the clouds. I opened them only to find the cave from which I came.
Psyche Entering the Garden
Author Unknown
TheRiverStyx.net
Bibliography
| TO MY INTRODUCTION
PAGE |
| TO MY INDEX
PAGE |
| TO STORY
ONE => APHRODITE |
| TO STORY THREE => APOLLO |
Bibliography
This week I only used one source. I changed the point-of-view by
making myself into Psyche. I told it from first-person
point-of-view.
I did use the same events that take place in the source, but I made
them my own. I kept the same characters and plot.
"Cupid and Psyche" by Thomas Bulfinch. Found at Bulfinch's Mythology THE AGE OF FABLE OR STORIES OF GODS AND HEROES website: http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/bull11.html
"Cupid and Psyche" by Thomas Bulfinch. Found at Bulfinch's Mythology THE AGE OF FABLE OR STORIES OF GODS AND HEROES website: http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/bull11.html