The Golden Ass (also known as the Metamorphoses) is a picaresque novel from the 2nd century, and the only ancient Roman novel in Latin to survive in its entirety. It has a notorious reputation, well-deserved, because it is as rude and ribald as people say it is. The narrator, Lucius, is interested in the magical arts and convinces his lady friend (maid to a witch) to sneak him into her mistress' room so he can try out a spell. Lucius attempts to transform himself into a bird, but his reckless curiosity is justly punished when he is instead transformed into an ass. The maid tells him not to worry - the antidote is eating roses. Lucius must spend the night in the stable, and she'll bring him some roses in the morning. Of course, this doesn't go to plan and Lucius (in his ass form) is stolen by a gang of abusive bandits in the night. What follows is a cross between an episodic adventure story and a sort of X-rated Black Beauty. Lucius Apuleius is an engaging storyteller with an exuberant style - unfortunately, his choice of subject matter is often cringeworthy. There are several inset tales within the narrative - most notably, the story of Cupid and Psyche, here appearing for the first time in Western literature.
Ultimately, Lucius is transformed back into a man when he calls for divine aid and is answered by the goddess Isis. There is a marked change in tone in the last bit of the novel, as Lucius prepares for initiation into the mystery cult of Isis through a lengthy course of fasting, abstinence, and study. He eventually becomes an initiate into the cult of Osiris as well.
What to make of this story? Some of the content I just didn't want to dwell on, and some of the tales within a tale didn't really stay with me. I did notice that descent to the Underworld is a recurring motif - various allusions, the tale of Cupid and Psyche, etc. A (metaphorical) descent to the Underworld is part of an initiation experience: a death of the old self and rebirth of a new self. In the beginning, when Lucius tries to transform into a bird (symbolic of spiritual wisdom/elevation), he is grabbing for something without understanding or preparation. Instead he becomes an ass, a very earthly, plodding beast - also a patient, longsuffering beast. This is a descent of sorts as well, filled with trials. It is only when he calls for divine aid that he is able to transform back into a man. We tend to associate roses with love and beauty, but in ancient Rome, they had additional associations of rebirth and death. They were used as funerary flowers and associated with the Romanized cult of Isis. Lucius must further undergo physical preparation, devotions, and study to complete his final "rebirth" as an initiate of the mysteries of Isis and Osiris. So I believe that on one level The Golden Ass can represent the journey of the soul.
The tale-within-a-tale of Cupid and Psyche is a microcosm of The Golden Ass. Both Psyche and Lucius transgress a boundary - they display improper curiosity and break a prohibition. Both must then undergo many trials and a descent to the Underworld (literally or metaphorically). Both must call upon divine aid to complete their metamorphoses.
An English translation of The Golden Ass by William Adlington appeared in 1566, and it likely influenced Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, when Bottom is transformed into an ass. In addition, C.S. Lewis' novel Till We Have Faces retells the story of Cupid and Psyche from the point of view of Psyche's sister. That one is on my reading list!
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