The “Golden Ass” is a Roman-based novel pitting a character called Lucius a young Greek man who depicts immense lust. The story takes a twist when Lucius experimentation with magic turns chaotic leading to his transformation into a donkey. He undergoes some tragic experiences in his animal form, a factor that causes him to be exchanged from person to person. Ultimately, his situation is salvaged by an Egyptian goddess. Most fundamentally, the book is written to reflect a period known as the Late Antiquity. This was a period of transition where changes became apparent in many sociopolitical institutions experienced in most parts of Europe. The period lasted from 3000BC up to around 400BC and involved a paradigm shift in views and beliefs. The story presented in the Golden Ass is an embodiment of the culture, characteristics, and events of the Late Antiquity.
The book “Golden Ass” was initially drafted in Latin by an African writer. However, it remains essential to appreciate that the book does not document anything about the African continent. The Age of Antiquity is also referred to as the Ancient Era. It was a highly politically charged period with the Egyptian rulers engaging in the creation of the pyramids as the burial sites and tributes to the deities (Von Franz, 2017). Furthermore, the Roman Empire continued to expand its borders across the globe. One of the themes that the "Golden Ass" presents is that of divine intervention. In the text, the gods are held in high regard and engage in human activities. For instance, following Lucius' conversion to an animal, he is rescued by an Egyptian goddess. It, therefore, confirms that religion played a significant role in this period as human beings and deities regularly interacted for various reasons. As mentioned earlier, the Egyptian rulers in the Late Antiquity also engaged in the constructions of pyramids purely for religious purposes.
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Slavery was another vital tenet during the Late Antiquity period. Most of the success enjoyed in the Roman Empire was down to the slavery. Research by scholars further intimated that slavery had an essential role in Roman society (Basta, 2017). Most of the economic success that the Roman world experienced during this time was associated with the institution of slavery. The “Golden Ass” discusses the position of slaves in the society to a large extent. The slaves were owned by people and held in the same regard as any other property. Apuleius’ began by depicting slavery on a more friendly light. He began by asserting that slaves were not regarded as beasts of burden or subhuman. For the larger part of the book, they are seen as family members. However, as the book progresses, they are constantly exposed to brutality, a factor that significantly jeopardizes their position as citizens in the Roman Empire. In an instance, a large group of traveling slaves is mistaken for thieves and attacked by farmhands from a wealthy estate.
The Late Antiquity period was characterized by immense violence and social disorder. However, this success of the battles was significantly determined by supernatural beings. As a result, the war was usually justified by prayer and allegiance to the deities. Although the "Golden Ass" is not meant to portray a perfect picture of the Roman society, it succeeded in painting a picture of their way of life and thinking. Part of what Apuleius displays in his book is sexual violence in the society. Forceful sex is not regarded as a taboo thereby revealing a type of sexual openness that cannot be matched to any society today (Sexual Violence in Apuleius' The Golden Ass, 2004). More fundamentally, violence is not regarded as a crime, and thus no punishment is attached to it. Therefore, the characters in the book get an impetus to commit crimes of epic proportions without fear.
The Late Antiquity period was also characterized by a sense of magic and magicians. Women are at the center of this magic and wizardry that ultimately lead to the death of people or their conversion to animals. They are not only witches but also vengeful goddesses, using their wicked powers to punish men. As the story progresses, many women are critically demonized for their licentious behavior and witchcraft. Other than women's association with witchcraft, they also suffered the effects of patriarchy. The "Golden Ass" reflects a Roman society in the Late Antiquity that was significantly embodied in male dominance. For instance, an adulterous man is seen as an individual who has failed to control their lust. On the contrary, women who engage in adultery are savagely painted as immoral. Women are therefore objectified, and this can be seen through the words of Lucius who says "it is only a woman's head and her hair that I am really interested in" (Apuleius, 1566, pp. 26). Therefore, "Golden Ass" plays a significant role in depicting the position of men and women in society during the Late Antiquity.
In conclusion, the “Golden Age” discusses ideas, cultures, characteristics, and events pitting the Roman society during the Late Antiquity. The book reveals the political, religious, and social life during this period. Some of the themes that become apparent as one reads through the book include slavery, divinity, witchcraft, gender roles, patriarchy, and violence among others. The book can be used as a source of historical information because it provides vital information regarding the way of life during the Late Antiquity, a period that was widely regarded as a time of transition.
References
Apuleius. The Golden Ass (I). 1566. Translated by William Adlington. Revised by S. Gaselee. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1947.
Basta, H. (2017). Slaves," Colony," and Status Confusion in the Late Roman Empire. Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council, 18(1), 47-75.
Sexual Violence in Apuleius' The Golden Ass. (2004, April 17). In WriteWork.com. Retrieved 14:41, October 19, 2018, from: https://www.writework.com/essay/sexual-violence-apuleius-golden-ass
Von Franz, M. L. (2017). The golden ass of Apuleius: The liberation of the feminine in man. Shambhala Publications.
