Rodin's Riddle

The love between Cupid and Psyche was "mythical", was a utopia. We want to love to be loved, but here it seems they love each other, but don’t share the love for each other. Then, what is really the love between Cupid and Psyche? It is Rodin’s Riddle. He uses the technique of leaving his sculptures unfinished for us to finish them with our imagination. In this sculpture, what is it really happening? Is it Psyche kissing Cupid? Is it her trying to kill him?

Since the very beginning we are introduceed to the whole theme of the story, "My dear son, punish that contumacious beauty; give thy mother a revenge as sweet as her injuries are great; infuse into the bosom of that haughty girl a passion for some low, mean, unworthy being, so that she may reap a mortification as great as her present exultation and triumph". (Bulfinch, Myth XI G). Jealousy is here the antagonist of the story; represented through Venus. Jealousy is the seed to this whole plot. Nowadays, jealousy is often seen in many conflicts, such as in Ancient Greece. Bush might be jealous of the petroleum deposits in Iraq, so he invades the country to become the owner of them. We can be jealous of someone because he or she might be engaged with our crush, or he or she is doing better in school than me. When we feel jealous we often act blind. As if we had a blind on top of our eyes, without seeing our surroundings, just looking at ourselves, and doing what fits to ourselves convenience. Venus though that for Psyche, and Bush though that for Iraq.

Then, what does Rodin express through the sculpture? How is the feeling of love transmitted in the story? Rodin’s Riddle is a metaphor of a myth itself. A myth describes but doesn’t explain; it is the reader’s job to explain the succession of events in the story. The story of Cupid and Psyche reflects a typical story of you and your mother in law. First, she hates you, and then she accepts you in the family; but usually is the last one to really do. When you are father of her grandchild, a bigger connection is established.

Psyche drank the ambrosia, and became immortal. Juliet drank the Friar’s poison and falsely died. When we drink a potion, either good or bad, we aren’t just introducing a liquid to our bodies; we are becoming more mortal or less mortal. But how do we know what we are drinking and its consequences? Is Psyche prepared for immortality? Immortality is constantly touched in literature; you can be physically, spiritually and hypothetically immortal. A god is the three, being the only creature to stay with a physical dimension forever, and to stay in everybody’s conscience. Then, do we drink the ambrosia? Keep looking at Rodin’s sculpture, finish it, with your imagination.