Techniques of Description in Apuleius' Cupid and Psyche

268 Pages·2014·25.2 MB·English

TECHNIQUES OF DESCRIPTION IN APULEIUS'
CUPID AND PSYCHE
TECHNIQUES OF DESCRIPTION IN

APULEIUS'

CUPID AND PSYCHE
By

SARAH PARKER, MA

A Thesis

Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

McMaster University

©Copyright by Sarah Parker, April1999
Doctor of Philosophy (1999) McMaster University
(Classics) Hamilton, Ontario
TITLE: Techniques of Description in Apuleius' Cupid and Psyche

AUTHOR: Sarah Parker, BA (Brock University), MA (University of Ottawa)

SUPERVISOR: Professor Paul Murgatroyd

NUMBER OF PAGES: viii, 259

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ABSTRACT
This thesis examines Apuleius' techniques and employment of setting, ecphrasis and
characterization in the tale of Cupid and Psyche. Although some scholarly work has been done
concerning Apuleius' narrative style, it has largely excluded this story and focused rather upon
the larger framework of the Metamorphoses. This study is both a re-evaluation of earlier scholarly
conjecture as well as a new interpretation and more detailed examination of these narrative
devices within a much overlooked segment of Apuleius' novel. The first two chapters comprise
an extensive analysis of the author's use of setting and ecphraseis with particular focus upon the
following: the structural impact of and the manner in which these two elements are integrated
within both Cupid and Psyche and the Metamorphoses as a whole (for example, parallels, links and
prefiguration), their vividness or otherwise and how this is portrayed, the methods by which
Apuleius employs setting and descriptions to colour mood and atmosphere and point up
analogies and/or antitheses, as well as the significance which the two aspects play in conveying
major semes and thematic threads throughout the narrative. The latter two chapters focus upon
Apuleius' methods of characterization, including an examination of the minor and principal
characters' actions, spoken words and thoughts, authorial intrusions and judgements, set
descriptions, the significance of names or their absence, antitheses and/or analogies between
characters and between characters and their environments. Characters' roles and narrative
functions are also examined at length. The analyses have been undertaken in conjunction with
both modem narratological methods and traditional classical methods of text analysis. This
dissertation furthers knowledge about Apuleius' narrative techniques, and demonstrates his
careful attention to structure, style, the impact of characters and the importance borne by set
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descriptions. It also contributes, therefore, to our knowledge of the ancient novel and narratology
in general.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface vii

Chapter One: Setting
Introduction and Definition of Setting 1

Loci horridi et loci amoeni 2

The Robbers' Cave: 4.6 3

Psyche's Third Task: 6.13-15 11

Psyche's Descent to the Underworld 22

Cupid's Palace 38

Ceres' and Juno's Temples 43

The Absence of Setting 48

Conclusions 50

Chapter Two: Ecphrasis
Introduction and Definition 55

Venus' Marine Retinue at 4.31.4-7 58

Venus' Chariot and her Ascent to Heaven at 6.6 71

Cupid: 5.22 79

The Wedding Feast: 6.24 93

General Considerations 105

Functions 106

Standard Features and Techniques 109

Chapter Three: Minor Characters
Introduction and Definition 112

Psyche's Sisters 114

Non-Human Minor Characters 131

Psyche's Incorporeal Servants 132

The Garrulous Bird 134

Venus' Handmaids 136

The Compassionate Ant 139

Psyche's Reed Assistant 141

The Regal Eagle 144

The Kind-Hearted Tower 146

Zephyrus 148

Pan 151

Ceres and Juno 155

Mercury 161

Jupiter 163

Conclusions 168

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Chapter Four: The Principal Characters
Venus 173

Cupid 206

Psyche 232

Bibliography 249

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Preface
This thesis aims to further our knowledge about and offer new insights into Apuleius'
methods and usage of setting, ecphrasis and characterization within Cupid and Psyche. Although
the focus of the dissertation is restricted to the Cupid and Psyche tale, it tells us a great deal about
Apuleius' novelistic style in general and his relation to the tradition of the ancient novel, as well
as shedding light on Apuleius the man. Some work has been done from a narratological
perspective on certain aspects of the tale (e.g. Frangoulidis' studies), but the studies have not
consisted of comprehensive examinations of the above narrative elements. In fact, the majority of
narratological studies of Apuleius' Metamorphoses have focused upon the rest of the novel to the
exclusion of the inset tale of Cupid and Psyche. This is true of J. J. Winkler's pioneering work,
entitled Auctor and Actor (1985), which covers in detail various points in the novel but only briefly
touches upon Cupid and Psyche. The topic, therefore, remains largely untouched by other scholars,
and much of the material which does exist concerning these topics has either been written with
another focus in mind (e.g. a philosophical inquiry) or comprises only a brief mention in an
article or commentary.
I have approached my study using some techniques and terminology established by
modern narratologists, but have also relied heavily upon more traditional approaches to classical
texts, such as looking for the influence of literary predecessors on the author's choice of subject,
diction, etc. and the impact which earlier authors may have had on Apuleius. For the sake of
clarity, after a concise review I have frequently adopted definitions of terms offered by
narratologists. Yet, at times, it has been necessary to modify these definitions as they apply to this
study of Apuleius' work. Furthermore, to facilitate the reading of the dissertation, instead of
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including a separate introductory chapter in which the terms employed are defined, I have
chosen to elaborate upon them individually, as they are met in each chapter.
A word needs to be said at this point about the inclusion of an analysis of 4.6 in a work
which purports to deal with setting, ecphraseis and characterization exclusively in Cupid and
Psyche. I have decided to discuss this passage at length because of its significance as the dismal
locale in which the abducted Charite listens to the extraordinary story told to cheer her, and for
its striking contrasts with the fantasy of the tale. Furthermore, the robbers' cave is meaningful as
the home of the drunken old narratrix.
For the text of Cupid and Psyche, I have adopted E. J. Kenney's (Cambridge, 1990b)
readings where variants exist. The text used for 4.6 is that established by J. Arthur Hanson in
Volume I of the Loeb edition of Apuleius' Metamorphoses (Cambridge, MA and London, 1989). I
have adhered to the abbreviations for classical authors and their works provided in the OLD
(combined edition; Oxford, 1982) and Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon9 revised by Jones
and McKenzie (with supplement; Oxford, 1968). Translations given throughout the thesis are my
own, unless otherwise noted. All references in the dissertation to a masculine reader do not imply
that only males would have read Apuleius' work, but I have simply chosen to use one gender for
the sake of brevity and readability.
I would like at this time to thank my supervisor, Dr Paul Murgatroyd for his shrewd and
constructive criticism and his constant encouragement throughout the writing of this thesis.
Thanks are also due to my other two readers, Dr P. Kingston and Dr A. Booth, for their support
and many valuable suggestions. A particular debt of gratitude is owed to my spouse, Jeff
McFarlane, to whom this thesis is dedicated, for his assistance with my computing problems and
many years of immense patience and understanding.
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Chapter 1: Setting
Although setting is not essential to a narrative, its presence is often of narrative
significance. Gerald Prince in A Dictionary of Narratology (s.v. setting) defines setting as "the
spatiotemporal circumstances in which the events of a narrative occur" .1 He also adds that setting
may be of varying prominence, consistency, precision, and objectivity, and that it may be
presented in an orderly or disorderly fashion. The importance of setting varies according to each
reader and text in relation to the action and characterization. Some settings are essential to the
action of a narrative and in these cases, each component of the setting performs a significant
function (for example, causal or analogous). Other settings are symbolic, while others still are
absolutely irrelevant to the narrative, being presented simply because they are there.
Details of setting can be introduced in a contiguous fashion (e.g. a description of a locale)
or they can be scattered throughout the narrative. Apuleius presents his reader with detailed
descriptions of setting at several points in the Cupid and Psyche tale. For the purpose of this
chapter, the points at which setting is of significance to the narrative will be examined. I shall
adopt Prince's definition of setting as above, as well as examining various other aspects of setting
including: the human, divine and animal inhabitants of a given locale, their customs, the
surrounding environment, and material objects within the setting. Apuleius occasionally offers
minor details of setting elsewhere, but I shall only examine setting where a sufficient amount of
detail is given for the reader to create a clear mental image of where the narrative events are
actually taking place. The following passages will be examined in this chapter: the robbers' cave
and its environs at 4.6; the locus horridus summit of Psyche's third task at 6.13-15; the underworld
1 For further details regarding setting see Prince 1987, pp. 86-7 and 1982, pp. 73-4; Bal
1985, pp. 43-45; Toolan p. 103ff.; Fowler 1977, p. 38ff.
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