Cupid and Psyche: A Love Story

by Edna Barth, Ati Forberg (Illustrator)

The Greek god of love, Cupid, falls in love with the beautiful mortal, Psyche.

Genres: Mythology

64 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of the ancient Greco-Roman myth, in which the goddess Venus becomes so enraged at the adoration offered to the beautiful princess, Psyche, that she sends her son Cupid to destroy the young mortal with a spell. But Cupid himself falls in love with Psyche, and secretly marries her. "The path of true love never did run smooth" however, and a lack of trust on both sides leads to tragedy, and to Psyche's quest to be reunited with her beloved husband...

This retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche offers a much more extensive text than the version illustrated by Kinuko Craft, which I have previously reviewed. Although not long enough to be a novel (64 pages), it is certainly not a picture-book. The narrative is faithful (in the main) to the original version found in Apuleius's 2nd century novel, The Golden Ass .

The wash drawings by Ati Forberg, in black and red, are influenced (so the dust jacket tells us) by the Cretan culture "from which many of the Greek myths arose." I assume that they must mean the Minoans? Although I am aware of the importance of Crete as Zeus's childhood home, as well as its centrality to the story of Theseus and Ariadne, I was not aware that Greek mythology as a whole was believed to have come from this island... I think I will have to investigate this further... Regardless, Forberg's illustrations are charming.

In sum, while I would recommend the Cupid and Psyche illustrated by Kinuko Craft for the younger child, this version provides a very enjoyable retelling for the older child who wants to start reading on his or her own.

[Klara Jarolimova · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to be mesmerized by this story when reading about Canova's sculpture in Art History class and then seeing it at the Louvre, but that was when I was very naive. I think the term "eros" makes it clear that it can be a recipe for erotomania and eventually suicide. You'll end up drinking yourself to death just to interpret your hallucinations, get all fucked up... until Cupid becomes ecstasy to dance to on a pole. The most significant piece of the sculpture is Psyche appearing as if she cannot get up due to her agony and Cupid’s gesture caressing her breast. The question is whether Psyche gets tumor cyst due to the stress of searching for her beloved while being tested and judged by his mother, wallowing in guilt for even thinking about questioning her “secret husband’s” intentions, because how dare she tries to know who and what he is... or noncancerous lump as a result of raging hormones, because no one could ever see so deeply into her soul before and there is no one else who could fulfill or save her. I totally see the monster Psyche is destined to fall in love with as a representation of deep depression that is meant to eat her soul up and that could be Venus’s intent, or it could be more of a bipolar/dual psychology and her guardian angel suddenly turns into a monster, because her conscience came back and she decided to judge all of her life's sins to determine whether or not she was worthy of God. One question that many may not ask themselves is: If she is to go through so much pain just to be with him, gets accepted by any of his family or circle and he makes her believe that it is love, is he really worthy of her or authentic... is Psyche getting destroyed by her own mind? Even if someone has such power over you, your soul needs to survive and you need to stay true to YOURSELF to survive. Well, it’s definitely not Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes, because those two challenged each other in a way that leads to both of them learning something and complimenting each other’s intellect, which is a lot healthier. I mean, Cupid actually did settle to beg for mercy twice without even realizing that visiting his wife at night without her knowing him could be classified as rape. Honestly, one of the biggest mistakes in this story is that Cupid is viewed as a loving innocent little angel and as a result, he is completely blindfolded! Cupid and Psyche is a very deep and psychological story, but a dangerous idea for real-life scenarios. In fact, I view Venus' treatment as the worst kind of psychological prison. In the modern-day, parents having to take their daughter to a monster could represent parents selling their children into sex slavery. No wonder stories are changing in the way we tell fairy tales, because prince charming is unlikely going to come to save you, you gotta save yourself. In my opinion, love is very personal and it is an emotion for each one of us to deal with in our own individual way. Some of us start questioning and researching, some just feel it and think they know. I think the way Cupid and Psyche are portrayed in this story is deep but irrational. The curiosity and questioning about the rest of the world and universe diminish into an introspective illusion of never-ending, problem-free heaven brought by the systematic molding of the divine and one has to face both beauty and the beast within to resume living their life to their full potential, regain control over self and come back to reality... otherwise, they have to walk around with subconscious invisibility cloak to protect their ego with no progress in sight. If you want heaven, use your own imagination, not a guy who will judge your breasts and have you face a jealous monster. Why would Psyche want to be a goddess anyway? To be like Cupid and his family? Is that really a heaven? Why can’t she just be herself? What kind of a life is a life without solving a problem or progress or creating something of your own? You end up in heaven with castles and servants, now what? I know we'd like to see swines flying and perhaps for some time they did (honestly in this time in history I questioned that when I saw Trump baby blimps at protests). I want to stay humble while doing my best to contribute to the world, without being tragically afraid of hell (physical or psychological) or expecting heaven (physical or psychological), I just want to have the freedom to "be", but I know in this world it can be tricky. We are human after all and haven't grasped the relativity between the concept of time and freedom. I also think that the worst thing about this story is that it suggests an idea of erotomania and Schizophrenia. I honestly have a hard time with the gods' and goddesses' stories, because of that. I love art history, but some of the early art movements have a strange effect on the later phases. I always wondered where does one’s energy go after one dies, but to me, it’s still energy that travels and changes, then perhaps comes back to Earth in another form if it suits and no one should mess with your energy to try turning you into a monster. But the idea of heaven and hell as some see it when they take the words in holy books literally just boggles me. One’s energy entering a higher dimension or higher spiritual and emotional vibration makes more sense to me. I guess that’s why the story is just a myth or an abstract idea of acquiring better awareness of the antithesis of the lower and higher vibration. In my book rewards really can be misleading as one could be better off with perpetual and mutual evolution. How funny is it that in Hinduism it is said that a dog is the lowest being and if spelled backward in English, the dog is sacred... I could go on about dog thinking that each time he drools, Maslow smiles and writes in his book, or how personal politics are, but that's a category of its own. Love is more tricky, if it is mad enough, this story is a perfect example. Sometimes you gotta think of the different cults that may use this for their own benefits. I think that if it’s true love, then you’re allowed to have your own brain, soul, and dreams and still be loved. Give psyche her wings back, even if they are ones of a butterfly. There are others to consider, outside of your group of munchkins.

[Mir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forberg's illustrations are the best part of this book, and they are only good, not great, being a bit too heavily influenced by the aesthetics of the 1970s. But they are very pretty, and do capture some of the feeling and colors of the Minoan and Classical Greek arts.

Unfortunately, the book is text-heavy, and the text is not particularly sympathetic or interesting. It isn't terrible by any means, but when an author is adapting or rewriting a story that already exists in multiple formats I expect her to bring something new to the table. Barth doesn't say what source material she is using; the only classical author she mentions is Apuleius. She does say that she intends the story to "represent the progress of the human soul toward perfection," but I don't feel she accomplishs this as Psyche pretty much stays a sad sack for the entire story. Her astounding beauty seems to be the only thing the poor girl has going for her. Even before her misadventures begin she is constantly depressed and dreary and shows no pleasure or appreciation of the many advantages and luxeries she receives as a princess. Throughout the book, everything is done for her by people, gods, or animals who see her beauty. The only step she takes is leaving to search for Cupid after he leaves her, and even then she is always directed by others and others perform all her tasks for her. And when she screws up her mistakes are fixed for her with no effort on her part. Not much of a quest!

I was also bothered by a few passages such as:

"True, she was inclined to be somewhat too curious. From time to time she would begin to muse over where she might be in a year or even five or ten years hence. And now and again she was heard to remark, 'I do wonder what my future husband will look like.' Of course this was none of her concern at all. This was something for her father, the King, to decide."

This passage really made me wish the author had given some sources. I've read a few versions of this story (including classical texts) and not heard this moral before. This seems too patriarchal even for a Victorian adaption, and this one is from the 70s! Psyche is also criticized for what seemed to me to be a perfectly natural discontent at living completely alone with no human contact except an invisible husband who comes to sex her up in the night. No conversation is mentioned between the two, and the first meeting occurs while she is sleeping and wakes to find him in her bed making out with her! Overall, I really felt like the author was affirming the importance of beauty and obedience, rather than trust, humility, and courage as in other versions I have read.

I would certainly not recommend to children a story with such an inert female protagonist.

[Amy Wilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid, I had this illustrated version of Cupid and Psyche and I loved the myth about the beautiful youngest daughter of a king who is cursed and doomed to marry a monster, a fate her family views as equivalent to death.

Dressed for mourning, they take her to a mountainside and leave her, (one of my favorite illustrations of all time!) only instead of a monster a wind comes and takes her to a valley where she lives in a palace and is visited in the night by her mysterious monster-husband - who is not a monster at all, but Cupid, a god. Cupid makes her promise never to try to learn who he is and for a time, she is happy.

But then, goaded by her curious and envious sisters, Psyche decides she has to know how horrible her husband is, and lights a lamp to see him. Of course the lamp oil drips, he catches her in the act. Heartbroken at her betrayal, he flees, afraid of being found out by his mother, Venus.

Psyche then wanders in search of a way back to him and eventually she is given a trial, which leads her to her death, but Cupid saves her and she is given immortality.

Who gave me this edition as a child? Thank you, whoever you are. I loved this story and, as I hit adolescence, it became kind of a touchstone for me.

[tee]

The text, though faithful, fails to capture what the Author’s Note intends: “The soul (Psyche), originating in heaven where all is love (Cupid), is condemned for a time to wander the earth, undergoing hardship and misery. If the soul proves worthy, it will in the end return to heaven and be reunited with love, as Psyche is reunited in the story with Cupid,” which is sad because it would’ve been a lovely interpretation, far from these worn out words. Will try more editions, but the illustrations raise the bar.

[Maianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! I had this as a child and it is my favorite version of this story. It clearly states the moral of the story: “Without trust, there is no love.” This is a great story and a wonder retelling. Highly recommend!

[Liz Eee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, I loved them! Wonderful story, well written!

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what age child this book is geared towards. It's quite long and difficult for a young child's picture book but it's too short and simple for an older child. It is, however, a good retelling of the story. Psyche isn't nearly as likable in this version as in some others but it's more accurate that way, I think. The illustrations are very well done but they look like they were done in color and then printed in black and white, which is disappointing. They also have a twinge of an early-seventies feel about them, which is, of course, when the book was written. My biggest pet peeve about the book, though, is that in both the afterward and the flyleaf this story is referred to as a Greek myth which is incorrect. This is a Roman myth with roman names. Cupid was Eros in Greek mythology and did not wed Psyche.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Cupid and Psyche is one of my favorites from Greek/Roman mythology (I even have a Waterhouse print of Psyche hanging in my guest bedroom). I have always been fascinated by the "Beauty and the Beast" story of star-crossed lovers, however, I was pretty disappointed by this particular re-telling. It was written as an introduction to mythology for pre-teens, but the author took a lot of liberties with the original story. The best part of the book were the beautiful Grecian-style illustrations by Ati Forberg.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now when someone says that C. S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces is based on this myth, I'll know what that means.

[Elizabeth Plav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, I loved them! Wonderful story, well written!