Comparison Of Cupid And Psyche's Dark Night

Love is a motivation for people to fight, defend, and mature for. Lucius Apuleius' myth, Cupid and Psyche, tells the story of the strength and determination of the mortal needed to regain a lost love. Francesca Lia Block's modern retelling, Psyche's Dark Night, emphasizes the many issues that affect relationships and explores the pain that accompanies dating. The retelling offers a new look into love and whether or not it is worth all the pain that accompanies it. The updated setting and familiar problems the characters face allow for a newer younger audience to easily connect to their own experiences. The original myth promoted and reinforced the idea that achieving one's full potential and gaining fame and glory could be accomplished through …show more content…
Cupid and Psyche meet online, have a few phone calls, and after a drunk call, end up together at night. As their meetings continue, Psyche wants more than just sex; she knows that if she confesses all her desires to Cupid, she will only manage to scare and push him away. Cupid's own thoughts are, "No, he knew that in the dark he could hold onto himself. Cupid did not want to lose himself in anyone...That was why he came to Psyche only at night. He would not get lost in her. He was already invisible in the darkness so he could not disappear" (Block 447). Although Cupid enjoys what they have now, he fears fully committing to a relationship, he cannot commit to himself or his passion of being an actor because he doesn't want to fail, which forces him to stay uncommitted from everything else in his life. By meeting Psyche only at night, he holds onto a sense of control over himself. His past relationships give him insight into how they can easily turn one-sided and he is then forgotten about. Then there is Psyche, who is already in therapy and knows that she tends to project many of her own insecurities onto her lovers. Of course, Psyche realizes that she makes drastic relationship decisions whenever her therapists are away when she cannot talk about how she feels or what she is thinking. Psyche scrutinizes her actions, "He made me think he …show more content…
Love is a motivation for the characters in both stories and both offer unique advice on how to deal with the obstacles that are put forth by the needs and wants of each individual. The myth encapsulates the impressive, magical journey, whereas the retelling offers a mental and emotional journey that is just as significant, if not more. As many people suffer from past traumas and issues that continues to affect their daily life if they are not dealt with. The major difference that changes the story's meaning in the retelling is the ending. Realistically, love does not always fix everything or allow a happy ending. While saying goodbye, Cupid and Psyche think to themselves, "He didn’t mind this kind of uncertainty; in fact it comforted him. He would like this state of noncommitment, warmth, and hope to go on forever...Psyche, on the other hand, wanted clarity and reassurance and plans for a second date, but for now she did not turn her head and longingly watch Cupid walk away" (Block 459). Cupid and Psyche's fate is left uncertain, yet, both characters seem to have grown and matured to the point that they are able to accept that. Through their individual journeys, they learn to face and deal with their issues, once they do, they are able to reconnect with one another. The retelling allows a modern understanding of the