The Golden Ass
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5 Book 6 Book 7 Book 8 Book 9 Book 10 Book 11
Themes
All Themes The Power of Stories Faithfulness and Loyalty Identity, Transformation, and Curiosity Consequences of Greed
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Lucius Psyche Cupid Isis Photis Charite (The Hostage) Old Hag The Jealous Wife Tlepolemus (Haemus) Pamphile Milo The Pauper’s Wife The Baker Aristomenes (The Wayfarer) Socrates The Baker’s Wife The Fuller’s Wife Thrasyllus Byrrhena The Fuller Meroe Thelyphron Osiris The Widow The Pauper Philebus The Three Sons The Farmer The Landlord Pythias Proserpina The Stepmother The Stepson The Biological Son The Two Brothers Thrasyleon
Symbols
All Symbols Donkey Roses
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The Golden Ass

by

Apuleius

The Golden Ass Symbols

Donkey

The donkey represents the consequences of greed and curiosity. The protagonist and narrator Lucius gets turned into a donkey after he tries to steal a magic transformation ointment from the witch Pamphile. Donkeys traditionally…

read analysis of Donkey

Donkey Symbol Icon

Roses

Roses represent comfort, knowledge, and beauty—the opposite of life as a donkey. After Lucius gets turned into a donkey by the ointment of the witch Pamphile, the maid Photis advises him that the…

read analysis of Roses

Roses Symbol Icon
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