Curiouser and Curiouser: Term Paper Topic

So often in Fairy Tales, curiosity is both a bane to the fairy tale character and essential to moving the story forward. Psyche, in Apeleius' story of Cupid and Psyche is a character who cannot escape this compelling need to know. As readers we sense the peril of Psyche indulging her curiosity and yet we cannot help but joining her in her need to understand the world she is living in. Even though she is warned that she cannot see her husband, Psyche must hold up a lamp to see the supposed serpent who climbs into her bed each night. Not only does she indulge her curiosity to see her until-then invisible husband, but she is also entranced by the newly revealed Cupid's sheaf of arrows. And it is this particular curiosity that defines her life. Because at this moment of unflagging curiosity, Psyche (the soul) falls in love with love. Now her quest truly begins, for no one, not even Psyche, can ignore the power of Cupid's arrows. Nor does Psyche's curiosity lessen once she begins her quest to find the lost husband, the beast groom. As Psyche travels to the underworld in the last leg of her quest and obtains a box of beauty, she is again overwhelmed by curiosity. Psyche does not open the box because she needs or wants more beauty. Indeed, her story begins because Psyche's beauty rivals that of the goddess Venus. Instead, Psyche opens the box because she is told not to - because she is too curious about its contents. Psyche is the archetype of the character who is too curious, someone whose story is defined by their desire to understand the world - a desire that is both destructive and essential.

My term paper will start here, with the archetype - but not the original.