Proserpine and Midas

"Proserpine and Midas" by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley is a collection of two unpublished mythological dramas, likely composed in the early 19th century. These works draw on classical themes, revisiting the stories of Proserpine and Midas, and reflect Shelley's literary exploration of myth and its implications in a romantic context. The primary characters include Proserpine, the daughter of Ceres, who is entangled in her fate with Hades, and Midas, the king who acquires the golden touch but learns the perils that accompany his wish. At the start of "Proserpine," the scene is set in the beautiful plain of Enna, where Proserpine expresses her desire for her mother, Ceres, to remain with her. However, Ceres must leave to fulfill her duties. As Proserpine and her nymphs gather flowers, the atmosphere shifts into tension when Proserpine, left alone, goes missing, generating concern among the other characters. In the counterpart drama, “Midas”, King Midas arrives to witness the contest between Apollo and Pan, favoring Pan's music and incurring Apollo's wrath, leading to his transformation with the ears of an ass. The opening passages establish a blend of light-hearted lyricism and profound themes, hinting at Shelley's capacity for both artistic beauty and deeper moral reflections on desire, loss, and consequence.