FLASHCARD ONLY: Analysis Pages 1-12

TRANSLATE:

at Psyche relicta sola, nisi quod infestis Furiis agitata sola non est, aestu pelagi simile maerendo fluctuat, et, quamvis statuto consilio et obstinato animo, iam tamen facinori suas manus admovens, adhuc incerta consilii titubat multisque calamitatis suae distrahitur affectibus.

ANALYSE:

How does Apuleius portray Psyche’s emotional turmoil (as she prepares to betray Cupid?)?
- Select and analyse 4 quotes

TRANSLATION:

But Psyche left alone, except that she was not alone, for she is being agitated by the hostile Furies, she was tossed to and fro by her grieving like the seething tides of the sea, although with her decided plan and determined mind, now however moving her hands towards the outrageous crime, still uncertain about her plan, she hesitates and is being torn apart by the many emotions of her disaster.

ANALYSIS:

1. ‘infestis Furiis agitata’ (driven the hostile Furies).
- The promoted adjective ‘infestis’ emphasises the hostility of the Furies, particularly throuh the whipping ‘f’ and ‘s’ sounds, presenting Psyche’s emotional turmoil as a supernatural, external force upon her.

2. ‘aestu pelagi simile fluctuat’ (she is tossed about like the seething tides of the sea').
- The further maritime imagery and simile convey Psyche’s emotional instability, with ‘fluctuat’ expressing the emotional extremity of her agitation, suggesting that she is being swept between conflicting emotions and has lost control.

3. ‘incerta consilii titubat’ (uncertain about her plan, she hesitates).
- The historic present ‘titubat’ makes Psyche’s hesitation feel both immediate and ongoing.
- Juxtaposition of ‘incerta’ with her earlier ‘obstinato animo’ (determined mind) highlights the contradiction between her determination and uncertainty

4. ‘multisque calamitatis suae distrahitur affectibus’ (and she is torn apart by the many emotions of her disaster).
- The hyperbaton separating ‘multis’ from ‘affectibus’ is mimetic of the vast gulf of emotions overwhelming Psyche.
- ‘distrahitur’ (she is dragged apart) conveys the severity of Psyche’s psychological suffering, presenting her as internally fragmented by her conflicting emotions.

h

h

h

h

h

h