Sarah Vafiadis, Period 1, 11/15/21

Literacy & Learning
1. Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.
2. Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.
3. How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

I remember first hearing about the story of Cupid and Psyche in middle school when an animation of the myth popped up in my Youtube Recommended feed (the video is by Overly Sarcastic Productions — I would definitely recommend watching it!). I found the story fascinating for two reasons: the fact that it has a happy ending when Greek myths seldom do, and its parallels to many modern fairy tales, primarily Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. I happened to be obsessed with Greek mythology when I first discovered the story, so the idea of a Greek myth ending in anything but tragedy piqued my interest. I also loved fairy tales when I was younger, so this myth seemed to perfectly match my interests.

Now that we have covered fairy tales in this class, I find this story even more interesting because similar themes seem to appear across time and cultures. The story of Cupid and Psyche and various Cinderella stories follow similar frameworks: a girl who is pure of heart is tormented by sisterly jealousy and a cruel mother figure. She has a deep connection with nature, and is assisted by nature due to her beauty and kindness. By the end of the story, love triumphs and her trials are rewarded with a happy marriage. From Yeh-hsein and the aid she received from a fish to the Brothers Grimm’s Cinderella, the core elements of the story are the same. The story of Cupid and Psyche also contains some elements of Beauty and the Beast, such as the idea of not judging a lover by their appearance. 

Comparing these stories leaves us with the question, why do these themes appear in stories so frequently? I didn’t realize the extent to which mythology reflects inherent flaws and struggles of humanity until we started diving deeper into symbolism within myths in this class. The story of Cupid and Psyche explains the relationship between the human heart and soul, which transcends time, perhaps explaining why similar themes appear in stories again and again. The nature of humanity has not changed much since these stories were written, and many of the flaws depicted in stories can still be seen around us. For example, the story of Narcissus is certainly relevant in a society dominated by social media, where one is constantly trying to improve their appearance online.

I believe that analyzing Greek mythology, and folklore as a whole, allows me to better understand the people around me. I have always loved reading and listening to stories, but I only viewed them on a surface level. I took them at face value and read them with the goal of being entertained. However, now I better understand that myths are a reflection of the societies that they were created by and serve as a window into the past. Since so many ideas covered in mythology are still relevant today, I believe that analyzing them has helped me view societies of the past as more “human” than I did previously. It’s hard to conceptualize the lives of people in these societies, but analyzing folklore has helped. For example, we have discussed different forms of love and how they are reflected in mythology. There’s paternal love and the grief of letting go of a child as they reach adulthood, as shown in the story of Demeter and Persephone. The story of Cupid and Psyche exemplifies romantic love and the work that it takes to maintain a strong relationship, but their child Hedone, meaning pleasure in English, shows the reward that comes from it. The different ideas of love displayed in mythology help us understand that humans in the past felt and loved just as deeply as we do, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of how they lived. As cheesy as it sounds, I think that analyzing folklore has allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity of humanity and human emotion, which I find especially refreshing after a year and a half of isolation.