The Golden Ass, Book 2

Summary

In this solo episode, Trix performs a dramatic retelling of Book 2 from Apuleius's 'The Golden Ass,' speaking as the protagonist Lucius who arrives in Thessaly hungry for magical experiences. The narrative follows Lucius as he encounters his aunt Berina (who warns him about the dangerous witch Pamphile), seduces the maid Fotus to gain access to magic, and ends up killing three 'robbers' in what he believes is heroic defense. Trix then deconstructs the story as a six-phase initiation sequence, analyzing how Lucius projects enchantment onto ordinary things, ignores wise counsel, and chooses forbidden paths driven by obsession rather than wisdom. The episode explores the psychological dynamics of desire, the difference between curiosity that leads to knowledge versus self-destruction, and how the 'god of laughter' serves as the final examiner who exposes our assumptions about being the hero of our own stories.