Week 4 Story: Cupid's Love Story

     A long time ago, Venus, the god of love, was jealous of a mortal. It was a classic story of Snow White. Venus was jealous that a girl (Psyche) on earth was being compared to her beauty. She had to get rid of her, and she called on her son, Cupid. Cupid was the right deity for the job! He was always bringing havoc to people; ruining budding romances, steady partners, and even strong marriages. And he had his pick of women for his own pleasure.Venus ordered Cupid to ruin Psyche's life. "Trap her in a terrible marriage with some old, ugly guy. Then I will be the 'fairest of them all' again, no contest." Cupid went out to find Psyche, intending to do just as his mother had asked. However, things took a slight turn when he laid eyes on her. "She's beautiful," he thought. And suddenly, it was as if one of his own arrows had pierced him. He was in love. He knew he would have to hide her from his jealous mother, so he concocted a plan to have her come to his home in the heavens.

     He found Apollo's oracle and begged that he would give a prophecy that Psyche be taken to the top of Mount Everest so that she would be given to a man in marriage. The oracle did as Cupid requested, and very quickly, Psyche was taken to the mountain. For Psyche's safety, he had to keep himself hidden from all. So he sent a servant to bring Psyche to his home. He couldn't risk her finding out that he was Cupid. If word got out, his mother would be furious. However, he still tried to welcome her into his home. He sent maids to help her, the best cooks to prepare meals for her, and there was a mass of pearls, jewels, and other fine gifts for her.

     Despite this, Psyche was miserable. She spent her first day in tears. Cupid was torn; he could do nothing but watch from afar. Eventually, after the sun went down, he went to her and tried to console her. He tried his best lines, but it didn't help. Eventually, the two fell asleep on opposite sides of the bed. The next morning, when Psyche got up, Cupid was gone. She was exhausted from all the crying the previous day and tried to go about some normal routines: brushing her teeth, eating some food, etc., when she found a note addressed to her:

"My love, I'm sorry for the circumstances, but Fate has put us together. I'm a kind man that wishes the best for you. Please give me a chance." Cupid also decided to write a poem, trying to woo the girl.

"Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

Here's a ring,

I love you."

This made Psyche feel a tiny bit better. She was a romantic like most girls. Cupid was quite pleased with himself. The crying had stopped, and he couldn't wait to return to the bed that night. It seemed like hours past when finally the sun went down. Cupid got into bed, and from there, the love between them grew.

Cupid and Psyche, published by L. Prang & Co

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Author's Note:
In the original story module, there's no introduction to how Cupid actually met Psyche. The story starts with Venus jealous of Psyche because of her looks and the attention she is receiving on earth, and she tells Cupid to make her fall in love with an atrocious man, and that's the end of that. There's no more explanation in the story. The next scene is where an oracle says a prophecy that Psyche will have a "fatal marriage," and that she needs to be taken to a mountain so she can get married. Then, the parents take her there and just leave! She is then taken up into the clouds, into a beautiful place, which is Cupid's home! Every night, in the dark, a man gets into bed with Psyche, "makes Psyche his wife", and they eventually fall in love (a little creepy and suspicious). But Psyche can't see his face and doesn't know who this person is: if it is a monster or a god! Later, of course, she finds out that Cupid is her mysterious husband, but that's part of another story. So for my retelling of the story, I wanted to write from Cupid's perspective on the story, how he sees and falls in love with Psyche. I've also added in a couple more tweaks, specifically, that first wedding night.

Bibliography. Apuleius's Golden Ass, as translated into English by Tony Kline. Web source.