Reading Notes: Adam and Eve, Part A

I know some of my notes could be taken the wrong way, so I want to halt any misunderstandings. The points I make do not 100 percent reflect my beliefs. I take points because I plan to use the themes the original story used and recreating them to fit my story.

Bibliography: Adam and Eve in Legend of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg and Genesis in the Bible by multiple prophets. 

The Creation: 
- a sacred day where no one is allowed to do any work
- the earth was a key ingredient in the creation of man
- A powerful being needed another being to appreciate the work they created, so the powerful being made 'man' (and because perhaps they were lonely)
-A realization that maybe the 'man' could become lonely too, so the powerful being created another being to bring the 'man' companionship
- allowed exclusive access to everything except one tree
- nudity is fun

The Fall:
- serpent represents wittiness and manipulation 
- "Your eyes shall be open, and ye shall be gods." The powerful being keeps up a cascade that maybe they are not lonely and only wanted another being around to be worshipped and appreciated by the 'man' and the snake could represent another being that is jealous or has a dislike for the powerful being. The snake could tell the 'man' that if he eats the 'fruit' then his eyes will be open to the truth that the powerful being is not so powerful after all, but just another being looking to be accepted by others.
-nudity is not so good anymore, a dead giveaway that something is not right
- 'A mother of all living' things
- they are no longer ignorant
- a paradise is locked away, and no one will ever enter again

The Ideal Man:
- every trait similar to 'man' which were passed down to his offspring were their downfall
- I am laughing that 'Eve is to ape compared to Adam's handsome perfection'; its so sexist I cannot stop laughing at how ridiculous it is. I do not even want to finish this unit anymore. 
- 'so the soul sees, but cannot be seen'
- foretelling all the generations to come later
- thousand years to 'man' equals one day to 'powerful being'
- 'man' was given the opportunity name everything
- mankind owes all crafts to 'man' 

The Fall of Satan:
- 'man' was envied of other powerful beings
- "How can I love this creature more than I can love you?"
-  The powerful being cheated to show the 'man' favoritism 
- 'Michael' bade 'Lucifer' to reconcile with the powerful being
- Love became twisted and corrupted

Lilith:
- a case of mistaken identity on the 'man's' part
- 'woman' was also made of earth and insisted upon her equality due to their identical origins 
- 'man' complained - how am I not surprised.
- 'demon children' would be taken - a mother to all dark things instead of all living things
- influential over babes

Eve:
-  powerful being and 'man' did not want the same thing to happen to 'man's' next companion so they took away origin equality so that could not be a valid excuse. Can you tell how much I despise this?
- 'chaste portion of the body'... so 'man's' companion is to be chaste... 
- "Nevertheless, in spite of the great caution used, 'companion' has all the faults God tried to obviate - daughters of Zion were haughty and walked with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes; Sarah was an eavesdropper in her own tent, when the angel sale with Abraham, Miriam was a talebearer, accusing Moses, Rachel was vinous of her sister Leah; Eve put out her hand to take the forbidden fruit, and Dinah was a gadabout." I'm so tired of sexism.
- But you know what, Adam took the damn fruit too.
- perfumes is a must.... because boys do not stink of body order...
-  because women brought death to the world... but Adam was just another idiot who accepted the damn fruit. But no, lets not share the blame.

Paradise:
- if the soul is worthy, the gates will open
- a 'mother' stream that quenches the entire earth
- 'man' had friendships with those in higher ranking than him, so being this could be beneficial if the powerful being becomes angry

The Fall of Man:
- his mental gifts result in his infidel, envy made him mediate and plan the death of 'man'
- The servant obviously forced the 'companion' against the tree and ate the fruit himself, this could be taken as a form of physical and mental abuse
- Hahaha, 'man' ate the fruit
- However, this reminds me of Romeo and Juliet when Eve thinks Adam will take another wife if  she dies, so she is desperate for him to eat the fruit as well so they could die together. 
-  You can only find assistance where you found disgrace. 

The Punishment:
- The angels gave Adam one of their days, meanings he would live for nine centuries of life and 70 years to his offspring.
- the reason snakes slither on their stomachs.

The Punishment, cont.:
- "The moon's light is obscured by night. Instead of shining like the sun, all the length of the day, she grows old quickly, and must be reborn and reborn, again and again."

(Lilith by John Maler Collier; from Web Source.)

As you can tell, I am a child of Lilith because I demand equality. 

Week 2 Storytelling: False

False

(Psyche grovels to Aphrodite from Web Source.)

Venus scowled at the girl from under thick brows and watched with no remorse when the girl hiccuped through her sobs as she fretted over her ruined silks, the shreds of her hair and hesitantly touched her shorn head.

Sitting on the floor was a rightful place for mortals, crying over their misfortunes.

How? How could mortal beings compare this child to her? A goddess? The sneer distorted her pale features at the thought of her son loving a mortal.

What her son saw in such creatures, she did not know. Nor did she desire to know. Mortal fear and worship energized the immortals, so why would her son fall to disgrace to bound himself to this girl?

Her son was a fool, falling in love with a mortal. He knew love was fleeting. He was the caster of fleeting love to please the mischief in his blood, creating chaotic love to soothe the unruliness inside him. The Goddess of Love herself knew, love was fleeting. She knew love diminished over time even for immortals.

There was only one kind of love to withstand time itself; millions claimed to have found such a treasure, but pure love had only existed twice in Venus’ lifetime.

The sneer turned into a malicious smirk as an idea wormed its way through her mind.

Oh, she thought, what a delicious way to destroy him, to make him see reason. No one can withstand my powers of persuasion.

She could not help the rumbling chuckle fall from her pink lips. She knew the girl, the foolish mortal, was trying to find Cupid. Her son was licking his wounds in her palace; he was biding his time until he could go search for his mortal lover not knowing his mortal was right under his nose. Even if he did know of his lover’s whereabouts, he would not be able to leave the confines of his chambers. He would not be seen unless she wished it.

Soon, but not yet.

Watery, green eyes cautiously peeked at the goddess. Psyche watched the beautiful immortal twirled her long fingers through long, reddish, blonde hair as light eyes pierced her soul.

The elegant immortal moved from her throne, floating slowly around the room as her eyes gazed daggers at the girl’s tense form.

The goddess circled the girl, staying far enough way from the mortal to decrease chances of touching her. She chuckled somewhat amused when the girl stared back at her. Brave and stupid. She had made the little mortal angry; her lips were pulled tight over her teeth as she smiled viciously.

Venus stopped in front of Psyche and knelt before her. Psyche drew in a startled breath, but did not move away out of defiance.

“Pricked by an arrow, you harbor false love for my son. After I show him the truth of your falseness, I will not allow you to live.”

Psyche’s eyebrows furrowed and squared her shoulders. Despite the shaking of her hands, Psyche’s voice was firm and loud. “I may have doubted his love for me, I may have fallen into fear and doubt of my future, I may have listened to unwise advice because of my sisterly love, but I have never doubted my love for Cupid. My love is strong; I do not doubt my love, is not false!”

Venus only smirked at her. Venus’ eyes shimmering with her spell and Psyche flinched away from her.

Venus stood then tilted her head to the ceiling, and she closing her eyes as she softly murmured, “I have found your love, my Son, come greet her in the parlor.”

She watched as the girl’s eyes widen - hope flooding her green irises though she could see wariness rise as well.

Fluttering wings echoed in her ears as Cupid entered the parlor. His eyes fell onto Psyche curled in on herself at her place on the floor. He took in her tattered clothes, her hair scattering the mosaic-tiled floor, the bruises forming on her pale skin. He rushed to Psyche to pull her into his embrace.

“My Psyche, who has done this to you?”

Psyche’s eyes darted to Venus, but then bowed her head to hide her face in his chest. The action was enough to unearth the rage in his belly and it overflowed his being.

“YOU,” he shouted at his mother, pulling Psyche closer to his body to shield her. “Why would you do this?”

Venus simply sighed. Her voice pleading as she said, “Oh, my Son, she was pricked by an arrow of your own. Her love is not true. You were struck by your own arrow; your love, as well, is false. I am saving you from this false heartache.”

“No,” he screamed, “I love her, it is pure love! My love has grown past my enchanted arrow’s power. My love is pure!”

Psyche tightened her hold on Cupid’s form and she felt his feathers tickle her arms. She squeezed her eyes shut as she murmured softly of her love to him.

Venus nodded her expression calm.

“But what of her love? Has it grown passed the influence of your arrow? I shall prove to you her love is false. No one can not be persuaded by my spell.”

Cupid looked aghast at his mother’s proposal and he shouted, “No!”

He moved to pull Psyche behind him to shield her from his mother’s eyes before she could cast her spell, but it was too late. Venus trapped the girl in her immortal gaze - her power of persuasion would prove to her son this mortal’s love was conjured up.

She beckoned the girl with her hand. “Come to me, little mortal.”

Psyche was not persuaded.

Author's Note: The story of Cupid and Psyche is similar to Beauty and the Beast. Psyche is known for her beauty and started receiving more and more worship than Venus, Goddess of Love. Venus became jealous and decided to have her son kill Psyche. Ultimately, Cupid falls in love with Psyche when he accidentally struck himself with his arrow. They both fall in love, but Psyche is unaware of Cupid's identity. Cupid only comes to her at night when she cannot see him. They make love and talk during the nights. Cupid told her many times not to try to find out his identity or they would be separated. She is tricked by her sisters to light a candle to expose Cupid, and in the process of admiring him she is pricked by one of his arrows making her "fall even more in love with him". Cupid leaves and Psyche goes to look for him. His mother finds out what happens and finally finds Psyche looking for Cupid. She tortures the girl as depicted in my story. In the end, Psyche becomes immortal and marries Cupid.

The issue I had with Psyche was she was timid, most often idiotic, succumbing to doubt and fear; I wanted her to stand up for herself and her love for Cupid. There was also a lack of Cupid's reaction of his mother torturing Psyche, so I included this in my story.

In mythology, Venus is mentioned to have a 'love power' over people where she can make them do whatever she wants them to do. I decided to play around with this idea with a few tweaks. I called it persuasion power because 'love' can be a powerful persuasion tool. However, her spell does not work on individuals who have found true love - so Psyche experiences 'pure love.' Psyche's love started before she was pricked by Cupid's arrow and it continued to grow beyond the arrow. So in the end, Venus' persuasion spell does not work on Psyche or Cupid since they have 'pure love.' Web Source.


Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche by Apuleius from Web Source

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part B

Cupid and Psyche 

Venus and the Goddesses 

-   From what I can remember, Gods/Goddesses usually get angry at mortals who will soon die while the the immortals are, in fact, immortal and will stay beautiful as time continues. It seems pity and immature for Gods to by jealous of mortals. 

Psyche's Prayer 

-   At least some goddesses are not pitiful. If she is so good-hearted and loved by all, why is she trying to kill a mortal woman who probably does not even want people's worship meant for Venus.

Venus and Mercury 

-       -     “So, ready to risk the unknown consequences of surrender, even destruction itself, she pondered how she should commence her imminent appeal.”

-       “Now you’re in Death’s claws indeed, and you’ll pay the price for this endless defiance.”

Venus and Psyche 

-       -    “It was not done within the law, and your child too will be illegitimate, if indeed I allow the birth at all.” I like this piece of viciousness. I’ll probably use this quote in a story.

-      -     “Venus flew at her, beat her about the head severely, tore her hair, and ripped her clothes to pieces.” In all honesty, Psyche is acting more like a godly individual than Venus is.

-       The ants reminded me of Snow White when they aid her in sorting the seeds.

Psyche's Task and The Third Task 

-      -      There have been multiple incidents where Psyche has been aided by divine intervention which means there are gods and/or goddesses who pity her enough to help her. This could be because she is the wife of Cupid or the other gods do not think she should be treated as such, but are companions of Venus who do not wish to upset her in fear she will turn on them.

The Jar of Beauty 

-        -   Psyche has issues listening to people who offer her actual, good advice.

The Sleep of the Dead 
- People only offer aid if there is something in it for them. 

The Wedding Feast 

- Apparently, everything is forgiven in the end. Psyche is mad immortal, a goddess of idiotic curiosity. 

(Psyche in the Underworld by Paul-Alfred de Curzon; from Web Source.)

Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche by Apuleius from Web Source

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part A

Cupid and Psyche

The Captive Woman

-   The description of hunger and starvation: aching jaw, draped in cobwebs, drowsiness 

-   "Don't fear for your life or honor, just 'bear' with our need for money: necessity and poverty led us to this profession." They cared for the girls feeling enough to try and soothe her.

-   She's a spoiled brat, then the old woman is tired of her attitude and threatens the girl to cease her crying

Her Dream

-   The initial reason for her crying, in a long winded lamented of everything she was losing in her moment of kidnapping. The second reason she started crying is a dream of her fiancé being murdered. 

-   Daytime dreams are untrue: dreams of evil deeds, nightmares, sorrows turn out to be the opposite with good cheer and happiness while dreams of laughter, love-making, good things suggest loss and sorrow instead. 

-   The first two sections were interludes to Cupid and Psyche's story. This was reflected from one of the projects I reviewed in my Favorite Storybook’s post .

Psyche's Beauty

-   Earth and ocean descriptions as conversing and sentient beings.

-   The actual goddess was abandoned due to Psyche’s beauty and misunderstanding of identity.

-   Jealously of a god/goddess is never a good think (and so immature).

-   Cupids is a delinquent, and he’s going to fall head over heels in love with Psyche

The Oracle of Apollo

-    The prettiest daughter is not asked to be married, they only admire her for her looks.

-    “Need to obey the divine command.” The flip of a wedding to a funeral due to the gods’ cruel sense of humor.

-    Despite knowing she will ultimately cause the destruction of the world she willingly accepts her fate, form what I can tell.

The Magical Palace

-    A wealthy and beautiful palace, is still a shimmering prison.

The Mysterious Husband

-   “Not even Cupid could compare to you.” The statement is complete foreshadowing!

-   No one can with stand a woman’s loving word and touch, not even a god.

The Jealousy of Psyche's Sisters

-    Her sister’s jealousy is why Psyche’s husband warned her not to entertain them.

-    The sisters remind me of the wicked step-sisters from the Cinderella tale.

Psyche's Husband Warns Her

-     Women’s envy is described as a battleground, a vicious war with no winner.

-     Sweet words once again bewitch Psyche’s husband.

Fears and Doubts

-   "Now hurried to the cliff, and with wild recklessness, not waiting for the attendant breeze, flung themselves into the air." 

-   Jealous women are manipulative and awful. 

-   She must be extremely young to have forgotten her husband's warning of her sisters; and must not have had high confidence in her husband to begin with if she fell to prey to those fears and doubts. 

-   When the sisters said, "Carrying all the treasure back with us, we'll see you joined in proper marriage vows." Psyche should have known something was amiss, but considering the points I made above, I'm not too surprised by her lack of intelligence. 

Psyche's Husband Revealed

-   "Only for you to think me some savage monster and sever my head with a sword, a head that bears the very eyes that love you." I fell in love with this sign, I can feel the despair in Cupid's voice.

-   How ironic they both pricked themselves with Cupid's arrows.

Psyche's Despair
-   The sisters' deaths were quite satisfying and ironic since they through themselves off the cliff in false hope that Cupid would catch them since his servants had before, but only because Psyche begged her husband to do so.

(Cupid and Psyche by Alicechan; from Web Source.)

Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche by Apuleius from Web Source