Lecture on the Myth of Psyche and Cupid

Key Characters:

• Psyche: A mortal woman of extraordinary beauty, worshipped as an incarnation of Venus.
• Cupid: The god of love, who falls in love with Psyche.
• Venus: The goddess of love, Cupid's mother, who sets difficult tasks for Psyche.
• Zephyr: The West Wind, who helps Psyche.
• Oracle of Apollo: Provides the prophecy leading to Psyche's abandonment.
• Proserpina: The queen of the Underworld.
• Cerberus: The guard dog of the Underworld.
• Charon: The boatman of the river Styx.

Summary of Events:

1. Psyche's Beauty and Abandonment:

   • Psyche's beauty intimidates real-life lovers, leading her father to seek guidance from the Oracle of Apollo.
   • The Oracle instructs her father to abandon Psyche on a rocky crag to marry a serpent-like creature.
   • Zephyr lifts Psyche and sets her down at a palace.

2. Life at the Palace:

   • An unseen voice welcomes Psyche and tells her that her husband awaits in the dark bedroom.
   • Psyche meets her husband in total darkness; he is gentle but insists on remaining unseen.
   • Psyche becomes pregnant but is conflicted about raising a child with a man she has never seen.

3. Revelation of Cupid's Identity:

   • Psyche uses an oil lamp to see her sleeping husband and discovers he is Cupid.
   • Cupid explains that he fell in love with her after his mother, Venus, asked him to embarrass Psyche.
   • Cupid flees, believing gods and humans cannot love as equals.

4. Psyche's Quest:

   • An unseen voice encourages Psyche to find Cupid, but Venus intervenes with impossible tasks:
     1. Sorting Seeds: An ant colony helps Psyche sort seeds.
     2. Golden Fleece: A river god helps her collect fleece from golden sheep.
     3. Underworld Task: Psyche retrieves a drop of beauty from Proserpina with guidance from the unseen voice.
   • Psyche opens the box from Proserpina and collapses from the sleep inside it.

5. Reunion and Resolution:

   • Cupid, recovered from his burn, finds Psyche and acknowledges her as his equal.
   • Cupid gives Psyche ambrosia, making her immortal.
   • They have a daughter named Pleasure.

Themes and Lessons:

• Love and Equality: The myth explores the idea that true love can only exist between equals.
• Trials and Perseverance: Psyche's journey shows that love often requires overcoming significant challenges.
• Transformation and Immortality: Psyche's transformation into an immortal being symbolizes the eternal nature of true love.