Marie Joy Perez Uy

Formalistic Approach

Literary Criticism

Cupid and Psyche (Greek Mythology)

THE IRONY IN WOMENS WICKEDNESS

Because of Psyches lack of trust to his husband Cupid or Hermes (Greek), or also called Love for
Romans, or perhaps out of her envious sisters plan, she fell into the grievous and impossible labors on the
hands of the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite (Greek) or Venus (Roman). Psyche owes a lot to their
wickedness, or else none of her lucks worked out.
Venus, being a goddess, personally envy and hate any mortal who surpasses her at any rate.
Unfortunately, one of them was Psyche, whose beauty Venus herself could not equal.
Psyche, possessing the loveliness that famed her, made men everywhere journey to gaze upon
her with wonder and adoration. As the number of her worshiper grew, no one any more gave a thought to
Venus, whose temples were neglected; whose altars fouled with cold ashes; whose favorite towns were
deserted and fell into ruins.
That instance angered the goddess and led her to seek the help of her son, Cupid, asking him to
pierce her heart to the most disgusting and despicable creature in the whole world. Venus was confident
that she brought upon Psyche her ruin.
However, there was a change of heart from Cupid. He sought the help of the oracle-god Apollo to
snare Psyche to the mountains upon the consultation of Psyches father for her fate.
It made a way for Psyche and Cupid to be united, with a condition of not setting her eyes on Him
when they are together at night.
Out of the wickedness and jealousy of Psyches two sisters, they planned her downfall through
killing her husband while sleeping at night. Of course, that lured Psyche to set her eyes on Him, which
happened, that proved her faithlessness to her husband.

Ill-faith Psyche fell under the wrecking plans of her sisters. However, if without their help, she would
not be able to recognize that the god of Love was her husband. Cupid, on the other hand, learnt Psyches
noncompliance to their agreement so he flew with his broken heart, leaving Psyche in terrible pain and
misery.
Poor Psyche searched for Cupid and tried to win the side of gods through offering ardent prayers
but no one responded. Lastly, being hopeless, she decided to proceed to Venus and offer herself as a
servant to soften her anger.
Here comes Venus wickedness through giving her several tasks, knowing that Psyche would not
be able to accomplish one. However, in each task, Psyche found help, leaving Venus angrier.
In her last mission, Psyche fell into trouble of a heavy sleep but Cupid himself came to rescue her,
proving that it is a difficult manner to keep Love imprisoned.
Cupid then asked Zeus (Greek) or Jupiter (Roman), the god of the gods, this time to grant Psyche
immortality. Convinced, Zeus called a full assembly and announced the great news Psyches becoming of
immortal.
Venus and her sisters are no longer threatened on Earth with peoples undivided attention and
worship. At long last, none of this would have happened if Psyches faithlessness did not take over and
most specially, if not for her villains wicked plans. She would have not gained her happy ending.
Every woman in this story might be physically happy in the end. However, if we are going to further
scrutinize it, it is an irony of the wickedness of Venus and her two sisters that brought them their own
hubris. Psyche reached the Olympus and became immortal, which might boost the jealousy of her sisters.
On the other hand, Venus should have been angrier when Psyche, now immortal, will be living with them in
Mt. Olympus. After all, if not for her tests, Cupid would have not rescued Psyche and would have not
reunited with her.
Therefore, the entire story is an irony for Psyches two sisters and Venus after their thoughts of
inflicting Psyches misery, only caused theirs.