# Chapter XXII explained — The Golden Ass

> Chapter companion for The Golden Ass by Apuleius.

## What happens

Venus is enraged at Cupid's love for Psyche and seeks revenge. Psyche wanders seeking her husband, enters a temple of Ceres, and is refused refuge. Her sisters persuade her that her husband is a serpent and urge her to kill him. Psyche prepares to do so but instead discovers Cupid's divine beauty. Jupiter intervenes, makes Psyche immortal, and marries her to Cupid in a grand celestial feast.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transformation and Identity

Psyche's journey from mortal to immortal wife of Cupid represents a profound transformation of identity, culminating in her apotheosis.

### Deception and Appearance

Psyche is deceived by her sisters into believing Cupid is a serpent, and the truth is revealed only when she sees his true divine form.

### Religion and Redemption

Psyche's prayers to Ceres and her eventual redemption through Jupiter's intervention highlight themes of divine mercy and religious devotion.

## Character check-ins

### Venus

Venus is furious at Cupid's love for Psyche and seeks revenge, refusing to be pacified by the other gods.

### Psyche

Psyche wanders in despair, seeks refuge at Ceres' temple, is persuaded by her sisters to kill her husband, but instead discovers Cupid's true form.

### Cupid

Cupid is the husband of Psyche, revealed as a beautiful god rather than a monster; Jupiter legitimizes their marriage.

### Ceres

Ceres refuses Psyche refuge in her temple out of fear of offending Venus.

### Jupiter

Jupiter convenes the gods, legitimizes Cupid's marriage to Psyche, and grants Psyche immortality.

### Mercury

Mercury is commanded by Jupiter to bring Psyche to the palace of heaven.

## Key lines

> Then Psyche fell on her knees before her, watering her feet with her tears, wiping the ground with her hair, and with great weeping and lamentation desired pardon

Psyche knelt before Ceres, weeping and begging for forgiveness and refuge.

_Psyche's desperate plea for sanctuary at Ceres' temple._

> Take a sharp razor and put it under the pillow of your bed; and see that you have ready a privy burning lamp with oil, hid under some part of the hanging of the chamber

Her sisters advised her to hide a razor and a lamp to kill her husband while he slept.

_The sisters' treacherous counsel to Psyche to murder the supposed serpent._

> she saw the most meek and sweetest beast of all beasts, even fair Cupid couched fairly, at whose sight the very lamp increased his light for joy, and the razor turned his edge

When Psyche looked, she saw not a monster but the beautiful god Cupid, and the lamp shone brighter and the razor blunted itself.

_The revelation of Cupid's true divine form, causing Psyche's murderous intent to fail._

> Hold Psyche, and drink, to the end thou mayest be immortal, and that Cupid may be thine everlasting husband

Jupiter offered Psyche a cup of immortality, making her eternal and uniting her forever with Cupid.

_Jupiter's act of granting Psyche immortality to formalize her marriage to Cupid._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/xxii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters