Beauty In Apuleius 'The Golden Ass'

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Recommended: Beauty obsession meaning

Throughout the course of civilisation, humanity has had an intrinsic obsession with beauty, may it be physical appearance and aesthetics, the appreciation of beauty through culture and art or the beauty of virtue, kindness and even grief.
Whilst it is difficult to pinpoint where this strong connection to beauty leafs from, it can easily be concluded that literature- especially classical myths and fables such as Apuleius’ Eros and Psyche, first published in his series The Golden Ass have had several moral and ethical implications on society and humanity’s understanding, perception and reaction towards beauty.

Whilst the original myth has several recurring themes, morals and ideas it establishes literary archetypes such as the virtuous maiden, the evil/ jealous mother-in-law and the courageous hero. These- particularly the virtuous maiden being the courageous hero also defies many of the traditional roles of female and male characters with a dominant female protagonist. It also investigates the social effects and results of beauty …show more content…

In Eros and Psyche, this is reflected in the virtuous maiden, Psyche, who is portrayed as “the singular passing beauty and maidenly majesty,” with several thousand visitors coming to worship her in the name of the "human incarnation of Venus.” Psyche’s beauty gives her status and praise in Roman society and people from far and wide come to praise and pray to her as though she were a “Venus is human form.” In this, the idea of praise and adoration for beauty is explored. Psyche is placed on a podium above the rest of mankind and is showered with gifts, treated differently to other citizens. The idea of such reverence is symbolic of the psychological desire for aestheticism and physical symmetry stemming from the primitive instinct for humans to judge predators based on their appearance and

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