To compensate, Orual is determined to secure the love of others. Orual, the narrator of the novel, understands at a young age by her father that she is ugly – too ugly to ever get married.
In a dream one day, when her father removes her veil, Orual discovers in the mirror that she has the face of Ungit, she realizes that she too has devoured her lovers for her own selfish gain. Although she tries to leave the old Orual behind, she emerges as the devouring Ungit. Interiorly, Orual undergoes a transformation into the also-veiled Ungit. On an interior level – the veil hides Orual’s spiritual defects (impurity of motive & impact her actions have on others).Orual comes to enjoy this mysterious aspect of her appearance – giving her a sense of power as she leaves behind the old Orual and takes on the new persona as the Queen. On an exterior level – the veil hides Orual’s physical defects (her ugliness & emotions).Later in the novel, after her beloved Psyche’s exile, Orual decides to permanently don a veil.
Lewis forces a deeper examination of Orual’s motives and thereby allows strong Christian themes to shine forth.Īt a young age, Orual was forced by her father to wear a veil to his wedding to hide her ugliness. By making Psyche’s palace invisible to Orual, C.S.
Lewis’ modern retelling of the classic myth of Cupid & Psyche from the Latin work, Metamorphoses, written by Lucius Apuleius Platonicus in the 2nd century.
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