The Golden Ass Story - Book Report/Review Example

April 13, Transformations Introduction The popular Golden_Ass story contains comic scenes (Relihan The paper focuses on the early books’ depiction of Lucius’ comic life. The paper delves on Lucius’ transformation to a religious person. The story shows Lucius favorable transformation. Question 1: Book 11 Solemnity, Book 1 to 6 Comedy Book 1 to 6 discusses the life of Lucius as a human person. In Book 3, Lucius accidentally uses the wrong magical spell to escape from captivity (Relihan 63). The wrong spell transformed Lucius to an ass, instead of Lucius’ preferred bird form (Relihan 63). The ass is a burden-carrying beast. To return to his former human form, Lucius is persuaded to eat a rose (Relihan 63). The story shows some victims use their might to overpower the intruding robbers (Relihan 11). In one instance, the court emphasized that the defensive act of victim to successful overpower and kill the robbers resulted to the court’s handing down the death penalty on the robbery victim (Relihan 13). Further, the story shows the people’s fear of robbers (Relihan 19). The story emphasizes that people should not buy expensive furniture. Buying expensive furniture tempts the robbers to force their entry into the home. The forced entry often leads to robbery and possibly murder or causing harm to the home residents (Relihan 19). In one robbery case, the criminals robbed Arignotus. Since Arignotus tried to prevent the robbery, the robbers cut Arignotus’ throat, killing the victim (Relihan 33). However, Lucius was able to kill the three night- attacking robbers who entered his abode. When charged in court for the murder of the three robbers, Lucius espoused he had to right, as one of the community’s good citizens, to kill the robbers in self defense (Relihan 50). The crowd laughs at Lucius’ defense reasons, creating comic scenes (Relihan 53). On the other hand, Book 11 solemnity shows a person’s capacity to adapt to changes in life. In Book 11, Lucius does whatever is possible to return to his former human self. Lucius does everything in his power to persuade heaven’s queen to return Lucius to his former human form (Relihan 233). After Lucius complies with the heaven queen’s priesthood steps, the queen permits Lucius to return to his human form. After complying with instructions of the heaven queen, Lucius is returned to Rome and is promoted to the prestigious Pastophori College (Relihan 254). Question 2: Lucius’ actual transformation eliminates being credulous and not easily duped. Lucius is now transformed. His transformation removes his prior personality. His prior personality is being credulous and being easily duped. In Book 11, Lucius prioritizes religious activities. He devotes most of his new human life to prayer. Lucius is no longer focusing on many earthly worries. The earthly worries include finding a woman to love, including returning to the arms of his former slave girl lover, Photis (Relihan 20). Likewise, book 11 shows Lucius’ return as a new human form shows he eliminates any thoughts of being a robbery victim (19). Lastly, Lucius’ return to human form shows he is no longer interested in witchcraft (Relihan 9). In fact, Lucius’ human form return shows he no longer wants to turn himself into bird (Relihan 63). By not using witchcraft to turn himself to a bird, the danger of using the wrong spell and turn himself into an ass animal is eliminated (Relihan 63). Further, book 11 shows Lucius’ new religious life is very inspiring. In his new human form, Lucius continues to praise the goodness of heaven queen. Lucius proudly practices self control, in compliance with his devout religious duties to put the goddess’ instructions and prayer over the prior selfish desires of Lucius. Lucius acknowledges he sees waves of devotees flock to pray and seek help from the heaven goddess (Relihan 248). Lucius even seeks the help of friends in the fulfillment of his religious requirements. Lucius gathers all the earthly items ordered by the heaven goddess (248). In one religious ceremony, Lucius wears the Olympic robe. Wearing the robe at religious ceremony, Lucius respectfully holds a torch on his right upheld hands. The light from the torch reaches up to the heavenly abode. A crown is firmly placed on Lucius’ head during the same religious ceremony (Relihan 249). Arriving in Augustus Port, Lucius rides a carriage towards Rome. Lucius affirms he happily accepts the heaven god’s decision to make Lucius one of the servants, able and willing to obey all heavenly instructions (Relihan 252), pleasing the godheads (Relihan 253). Question 3: Book’s comic description It is possible to see the prescribed book as comic without being identified as an Isis_cult_satire. The early books of the story describe the comic life of Lucius. Lucius is so busy trying to unravel life’s many mysteries. One of the mysteries is the possibility of being an expert in witchcraft. Being an expert in witchcraft includes having the expertise to magically turn oneself into a preferred animal. In the early part of the book, Lucius tries to imitate a witch who was changing herself from human form to a bird. Lucius is enthralled at the many benefits of being a witch (Relihan 63). Further, Lucius refuses to take heed of warnings from people like Byrrhena. Byrrhena warns Lucius to avoid Milo’s wife. She tells Lucius Milo’s wife is a witch. Byrrhena warns Lucius to be careful because there is high probability that Milo’s wife may use her witchcraft to kill Lucius. She tells Lucius the witch has the power to place imprisoning chains among the victims. The witch uses flattery and charm to erotically captivate the male victims (Relihan 26). If the witch grows tired of or is dissatisfied by the male prisoners, the witch easily kills the male victims. She transforms them into non-human forms. The witch turned some of the male victims into rocks. The same witch may decide the transform the male victims into frogs, dogs, cats, horses, ass, or any animal. For other male victims, the witch decided to make them disappear into thin air (Relihan 26). Instead of being scared of Milo’s wife, Lucius becomes more than eager to meet her. Lucius wants to learn the witchcraft magic for himself (Relihan 26). Feeling that he has the right capacity to turn himself to a bird, Lucius mimics the magic words of Milo’s wife. However, Lucius erroneously does not turn himself to his preferred animal, a bird. If he had turned into a bird, Lucius could easily fly away. Instead, the disheartened Lucius erroneously turns himself into another animal, an ass. Lucius tries to correct the error by finding a rose (Relihan 63). Further, it is a comic story because the entertained readers will immediately state that the story is full of fictional events that make the readers laugh. People of our current 21st century age do not believe in witches. Moreover, people of our current time will not accept the issue that people can turn themselves into birds, asses, goats, horses, pigs, or other animals. Moreover, people of our modern scientific generation know that witches cannot create magic spells (Relihan 63). Counterargument Consequently, the counterargument that book 11 is a satire is wrong. Book 11 depicts Lucius as a seriously religious person. There is no satire situation in book 11. The entire book 11 describes Lucius as a person who forgets all worldly pleasures, needs, and wants. Book 11 does not ridicule or criticize Lucius’ religious preferences. The book 11 only informs the readers of Lucius’ true transformation to a religious person. The entire book 11 does not show any semblance of satire. The book 11 paragraphs do not ridicule, make fun of, or mock Lucius’ transformation from a his prior human form’s preference for worldly pleasures and vanities to a heaven-focused new human being (Relihan 252). Conclusion The popular Golden_Ass story includes several comic plots (Relihan 1). The early books of the story depict the comic life of Lucius, prioritizing robbery, witchcraft, and love issues. The paper delves on Lucius’ transformation to a religious person. Book 11 focuses on Lucius’ religious priorities. Evidently, the Golden_Ass story affirms Lucius favorable transformation from an earthly life-prioritizing person to a person who prefers heavenly activities, especially praying. Works Cited: Relihan, Joel. The Golden Ass. Indianapolis: Hackett Press, 2007. Print. Read More