Date of class: 11-25-14
Lewis provides another story, while more direct this time around, that illustrates the power of myth to capture and convey truths. In "Till We Have Faces" he retells a myth but it has the exact same truth as the original. The story the Priest of Essur tells seems to be a close synopsis of the myth of cupid and psyche. In this story the jealousy of psyche's sisters leads to her downfall mirroring how the differing forms of jealously Orual and Redival felt towards psyche lead to her both being sacrificed and exiled by the gods.
"Of the things that followed I cannot at all say whether they were what men call real or what men call a dream. And for all I can tell, the only difference is that what many see we call a real thing, and what only on sees we call a dream. But things that many see may have no taste or moment in them at all, and things that are shown only to one may be spears and water-spouts of truth from the very depth of truth"
In the original myth the events of cupids deceit is told, no true understanding is derived from it. In fact, the motivation of the characters often comes into question, some speculate this is what Lewis lead him to write this book. He wrote it as if to have the audience experience oruals plight along side her, and come to their own conclusion of her motivation. In the end, the audience has their own experience understanding the form of love Orual feels for psyche, and in so doing reach a grander meaning of love.In the end the story has served to Encapsulate a near impossible part of love to explain directly without first experiencing yourself.
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