Proserpine and Midas is a collection of two unpublished mythological dramas likely composed in the early 19th century. This work reinterprets the stories of Proserpine and Midas, reflecting Shelley’s literary perspective on exploring myth and symbolism within a Romantic context. The main characters include Proserpine, the daughter of the harvest goddess Ceres, who is fatefully intertwined with Hades, and King Midas, who gains the power of the golden touch but eventually realizes the peril of his wish. The opening scene of Proserpine is set in the beautiful plains of Enna, where Proserpine longs for her mother Ceres to stay by her side. However, Ceres must leave to fulfill her duties. While Proserpine and the nymphs gather flowers, tension builds as Proserpine, left alone, goes missing, causing concern among those around her. In contrast, in Midas, King Midas witnesses the musical contest between Apollo and Pan, favoring Pan’s music and incurring Apollo’s wrath, which leads to him being punished with donkey ears. Each work begins with a blend of light-hearted lyricism and profound themes, foreshadowing Shelley’s moral reflections on desire, loss, and the resulting consequences through her expressive language.
