The concept of mortals needing to trust the gods and relinquish sovereignty of their own lives before they can experience a wholesome relationship with the gods resonates powerfully in both myths. But theology offers the deepest level of similarity between the two stories. Lewis also borrows many images from “Cupid and Psyche,” such as the ants, the heap of grain, and the field of golden rams, all of which surface in Orual’s visions. Finally, with the help of her immortal husband and other notable gods, Psyche is reunited in marriage.
Following the advice of her elder sisters and disobeying Cupid, Psyche loses her conjugal status and must embark upon a quest of hardship to appease Venus. The plot of both myths approximately follows a quest motif, briefly summarized thus: Psyche serves as a sacrifice to appease Venus, but Cupid saves the princess and marries her. Since “Cupid and Psyche” builds off of a foundation of Greek mythology, both myths include the beautiful mortal princess Psyche Cupid, the young god of love (called the Shadowbrute in Till We Have Faces) Venus, the goddess of love (known as Ungit in Till We Have Faces) and Psyche’s two elder sisters, whom Lewis names in his work. Noticeably, the two myths parallel in characters, plot, imagery, and theology. The similarities between Till We Have Faces and the “Cupid and Psyche” myth herald praise for Lewis in his adherence and deference to the original work.
Finally, Till We Have Faces resonates with two of Lewis’s other notable works, The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce, completing a triumvirate of applicability for both Christian and non-Christian audiences. Thanks to the respectful enhancements which modern literary talent can add to ancient art, Till We Have Faces tells a richer and more theological story than the ancient myth, as evidenced not only by the mythological qualities of the works but also by the authors’ treatment of the additional theme of appearances versus reality. The two literary themes of beauty and sacrificial love shine forth in the myths, though each myth adds its own unique hue to each theme. Superficially and intrinsically, the two works share many similarities, yet these similarities often reveal differences as well. Lewis reveals the power of myth to define reality. Comparison of “Cupid and Psyche” by Apuleius and Till We Have Faces by C.S. His retelling of the ancient myth of Cupid and Psyche draws out the truths of the myth as only a writer like Lewis can. Lewis bridges a literary gap of nearly two millennia in his book Till We Have Faces.
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