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The Golden Ass: An Analysis

899 Words4 Pages

The theme of witchcraft and secret cults are overwhelmingly evident throughout The Golden Ass, often overshadowing the underlying theme of human feebleness. The theme of human feebleness is best represented through the following characters: Lucius, Psyche, and the female criminal. Lucius exemplifies two core features: extreme curiosity and lustfulness (both of which served as his downfall). Towards the beginning of the book, Lucius is very much intrigued with the arts of magic and witchcraft. Rather than taking heed to the words of caution from Aristomenes and Byrrhena, Lucius lets his curiosity got the best of him. Stories passed on by words of mouth are a very common method of communication both in the book and in the world of the ancient Mediterranean. Every cult has an unspoken rule that …show more content…

It is then plausible to consider the idea that the Colosseum in ancient Rome was not exclusive used for public entertainments but also encompassed public humiliation and torture as forms of punishment (*). In addition, the patriarchal structure of Roman society is also reflected through the harsh treatment towards unfaithful or vindictive females, but not towards unfaithful males (the Baker). The epitome of human weakness is manifested through the story of Lucius, Psyche, and the female criminal as the underlying theme of The Golden Ass. Humans, as shown by the three characters above, are depicted in the book to be rather foolish, thoughtless, and vindictive beings. People are constantly blinded by love, hatred, and jealousy causing them to engage in all sorts of atrocities. Society, in our expectations, is suppose to be the witness of justice or at least more righteous compared to individuals. Roman society is rather rigid in its judicial system as shown in the book by its mean of reciprocating abominable actions with abominable

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