The Myth of Cupid and Psyches Forbidden Love

The Myth of Cupid and Psyche's Forbidden Love The great Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, was born from the foam near the island of Cyprus, for which reason she is referred to as the Cyprian. Aphrodite was a jealous goddess, but she was also passionate. Not only did she love the men and gods in her life, but her sons and grandchildren, as well. Sometimes her possessive instincts led her too far. When her son Cupid found a human to love one whose beauty rivaled hers Aphrodite did all in her power to thwart the marriage. How Cupid and Psyche Met Psyche was worshiped for her beauty in her homeland. This drove Aphrodite mad, so she sent a plague and let it be known the only way the land could get back to normal was to sacrifice Psyche. The king, who was Psyches father, tied Psyche up and left her to her death at the hands of some presumed fearsome monster. You may note that this isnt the first time in Greek mythology that this happened. The great Greek hero Perseus found his bride, Andromeda, tied up as prey for a sea monster. Andromeda was sacrificed to appease Poseidon who had ravaged the country of Ethiopia, which was ruled by her father after Queen Cassiopeia had boasted about her own beauty. In the case of Psyche, it was Aphrodites son Cupid who released and married the princess. The Mystery About Cupid Unfortunately for the young couple, Cupid and Psyche, Aphrodite was not the only one trying to foul things up. Psyche had two sisters who were as jealous as Aphrodite. Cupid was a wonderful lover and husband to Psyche, but there was one odd thing about their relationship: He made sure Psyche never saw what he looked like. Psyche didnt mind. She had a fulfilling nightlife in the dark with her husband, and during the day, she had all the luxuries she could ever want. When the sisters learned about the luscious, extravagant lifestyle of their lucky, beautiful sister, they urged Psyche to pry into the area of his life that Psyches husband kept hidden from her. Cupid was a god, and gorgeous as he had to have been with Aphrodite for a mother, but for reasons known best to him, he didnt want his mortal wife to see his form. Psyches sister didnt know he was a god, although they may have suspected it. However, they did know that Psyches life was much happier than theirs. Knowing their sister well, they preyed on her insecurities and persuaded Psyche that her husband was a hideous monster. Psyche assured her sisters they were wrong, but since shed never seen him, even she started having doubts. Psyche decided to satisfy the girls curiosity, so that night she took a candle to her sleeping husband in order to look at him. Cupid Deserts Psyche Cupids angelic form was exquisite, so Psyche stood there gawking at her husband with her candle melting. While Psyche dawdled, ogling, a bit of wax dripped on her husband. Her rudely awakened, irate, disobeyed, injured husband-angel-god flew away. See, I told you she was a no good human, said mother Aphrodite to her convalescing son Cupid. Now youll have to be content among the gods. Cupid might have gone along with the de facto divorce, but Psyche couldnt. Impelled by the love of her gorgeous husband, she implored her mother-in-law to give her another chance. Aphrodite agreed, but ungraciously, saying, I cannot conceive that any serving-wench as hideous as yourself could find any means to attract lovers save by making herself their drudge; wherefore now I myself will make trial of your worth. The Epic Trials of Psyche But Aphrodite had no intention of playing fair. She devised 4 tasks (not 3 as is conventional in mythic hero quests; this is a feminine story), each task more exacting than the last. Psyche passed the first 3 challenges with flying colors, but the last task was too much for Psyche: Sort a huge mount of barley, millet, poppy seeds, lentils, and beans. Ants (pismires) help her sort the grains within the time allotted.Gather a hank of the wool of the shining golden sheep. A reed tells her how to accomplish this task without being killed by the vicious animals.Fill a crystal vessel with the water of the spring that feeds the Styx and Cocytus. An eagle helps her out.Aphrodite asked Psyche to bring her back a box of Persephones beauty cream. Going to the Underworld was a challenge for the bravest of the Greek mythical heroes. Demigod Hercules could go to the Underworld without much bother, but even Theseus had trouble and had to be rescued by Hercules. Psyche barely batted an eye when Aphrodite told her she would have to go to the most dangerous region known to mortals. That part was easy, especially after the tower told her how to find the entryway to the Underworld, how to get around Charon and Cerberus, and how to behave before the Underworld queen. The part of the fourth task that was too much for Psyche was the temptation to make herself more beautiful. If the perfect beauty of the perfect goddess Aphrodite needed this Underworld beauty cream, Psyche reasoned, how much more would it help an imperfect mortal woman? Thus, Psyche retrieved the box successfully, but then she opened it and fell into a deathlike sleep, as Aphrodite had secretly predicted. And by and by shee opened the boxe where she could perceive no beauty nor any thing else, save onely an infernall and deadly sleepe, which immediatly invaded all her members as soone as the boxe was uncovered, in such sort that she fell downe upon the ground, and lay there as a sleeping corps.William Adlington Translation (1566) Reunion and Happy Ending to the Myth of Cupid and Psyche At this point, divine intervention was called for if the story were to have an ending that made anyone really happy. With Zeus connivance, Cupid brought his wife to Olympus where, at Zeuss command, she was given nectar and ambrosia so she would become immortal. Incontinently after Jupiter commanded Mercury to bring up Psyches, the spouse of Cupid, into the Pallace of heaven. And then he tooke a pot of immortality, and said, Hold Psyches, and drinke, to the end thou maist be immortall, and that Cupid may be thine everlasting husband. On Olympus, in the presence of the other gods, Aphrodite reluctantly reconciled with her pregnant daughter-in-law, who was about to give birth to a grandchild Aphrodite would (obviously) dote on, named Pleasure. Another Story of Cupid and Psyche C.S. Lewis took Apuleius version of this myth and turned it on its ear in Till We Have Faces. The tender love story is gone. Instead of having the story seen through the eyes of Psyche, its seen through her sister Orvals perspective. Instead of the refined Aphrodite of the Roman story, the mother goddess in C.S. Lewis version is a far more weighty, chthonic Earth-Mother-Goddess power.

Expressing Enthusiasm or Joy in Words

Expressing Enthusiasm or Joy in Words Sometimes you’d like to express just how much you really, really want to do something. In other words, you’d like to express your enthusiasm. Another way to put this is to say that you’re pumped and you want tell to tell the world just how stoked you are about something.  Use these phrases to express enthusiasm for something you are doing, or to support someone else.   to be pumped to be very excited and physically ready to do something Im pumped to welcome Mario Stranger to the stage!Are you pumped for vacation next month? to be stoked to be very enthused about something Shes stoked about her trip to Tahiti next week.No, Im not stoked about the test. I hate tests! Expressing Enthusiasm for Something You are Doing These expressions are used to express something about your own projects. You can also use these forms to state that someone else is excited about his / her own project. Below you will find expressions to use when supporting or showing your enthusiasm for someone else.   Subject be (really, very, quite) excited about something Use this form for a special event or opportunity: I’m very excited about working with Tom on the new project.I’m quite excited about my new car! Subject be (really) looking forward to something Use this form when you are anticipating a meeting or other event in the future. This expression is common in business settings: I’m really looking forward to opening the new store next week.She’s looking forward to taking some time off work. Subject cherish   Use  cherish  on special occasions as this form is quite strong: I cherish the time I spend with you.Jack cherishes every opportunity to speak to a client. Expressing Enthusiasm with Adjectives Here is a text full of adjectives that express your enthusiasm for a person, place or thing:   Its amazing that youve come to this site to study English. Just the fact that you found this site shows awesome dedication to learning English. I think youre an incredible student! The  adjectives amazing, awesome, fantastic, incredible  and  unbelievable  are  known as extreme  adjectives and express your enthusiasm. Used at the right moment, these adjectives add special emphasis and are used to show enthusiasm and joy. Be careful not to use these too often as they lose their impact when overused. Here are a few examples of appropriate moments to use these adjectives: Wow, that’s amazing! I’ve never seen a sunset like that before!Look at that mountain. It’s awesome! I Can’t Believe It! The phrase I can’t believe is often used to express something that surprises you in a good way: I can’t believe how much fun that ride was!I can’t believe how much I love you! Expressing Enthusiasm for Someone Else Here are a number of  phrases used to express enthusiasm when we hear someones good news. Subject be   (so, really, very) happy / excited / delighted   for you / them / him / her Use these adverbs and adjectives in combination to express happiness for someone: I’m really delighted for you. Good luck!She’s so excited for her husband. Congratulations! / Congratulations on the / your ... You can express enthusiasm for special achievements by beginning with congratulations: Congratulations on your new house!Congratulations! You must be a proud father! Subject must be   (so, really, very) happy / excited / delighted Use the modal verb of probability  must to express your belief that what you say about someone else  is true: You must be so excited!She must have been thrilled! That’s great / fantastic / wonderful! When someone shares their enthusiasm they expect you to react to their good news. Here are some phrases to help you spread the joy: Your wife is pregnant. That’s fantastic!That’s great! You should be proud of yourself. I’m (so, very, really) happy for you. Use this phrase to express that you truly wish someone the best: I’m really happy for you. I’m sure you’ll be great at your new job.I’m so happy for you and your husband. Would you like a boy or a girl? You deserve it! Use this phrase to express joy when someone has worked hard for an achievement. You deserve it  is also used to say that someone deserves a special gift or consideration. I heard about your new job. Congratulations! You deserve it.Lets go out to dinner. You deserve it. At Work Here is a dialog that might take place at work. Two colleagues are speaking, so they feel comfortable sharing their joy. Notice how each expression of enthusiasm is used. Practice this dialog with a friend or classmate. You can raise your voice to show your enthusiasm.   Colleague 1: Hi Tom. Do you have  a moment?Colleague 2: Sure, what’s up? Colleague 1: I’m really stoked about the new project.Colleague 2: Why’s that? Colleague 1: I’m really excited about the opportunity. If things go well with this, who knows what will happen!Colleague 2: I’m really happy for you. I’m sure you’ll do a great job! Colleague 1: Thanks. I hope so.Colleague 2: Of course, you must be very proud of yourself. Colleague 1: Yes, to tell you the truth, this is something I’ve wanted for a while.Colleague 2: Well, you deserve it! Colleague 1: Thanks. I appreciate it.Colleague 2: My pleasure. Between Friends Its always great to share your enthusiasm with those close to you. Heres a dialog to share with your friends: George: Doug, Doug!! Annie’s pregnant!Doug: That’s fantastic! Congratulations! George: Thanks. I can’t believe we’re going to have another baby!!Doug: Do you know the sex? George: No, we want it to be a surprise.Doug: Really, I’d want to know so I could buy all the right stuff. George: You have a point. Maybe we should find out.Doug: In any case, I’m really, really happy for your two. George: Thanks. I just had to share the good news.Doug: Let’s go get a beer to celebrate! George: That’s a good idea!Doug: My treat. Expressing enthusiasm is just one of many language functions. This is the opposite of  expressing sadness  and calls for very positive words.  Learning language functions can help you learn specific vocabulary for specific situations.