| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: his party, when he overheard two men talking by his side.
"I've watched every one that came on board," said one, "and
I know they're not on this boat."
The voice was that of the clerk of the boat. The speaker
whom he addressed was our sometime friend Marks, who, with that
valuable perservance which characterized him, had come on to
Sandusky, seeking whom he might devour.
"You would scarcely know the woman from a white one," said Marks.
"The man is a very light mulatto; he has a brand in one of
his hands."
The hand with which George was taking the tickets and change
Uncle Tom's Cabin |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dust by Mr. And Mrs. Haldeman-Julius: he had just removed.
"I don't suppose you can talk to me now after such a strenuous
evening," she went on more emphatically. And as he maintained his
silence, she continued with: "Oh, don't think I'm blind, Martin
Wade. I know exactly how far this has gone and I know how far it
can go."
"What are you driving at?"
"You know perfectly well what I mean--the way you are behaving
toward Rose."
"Are you trying to imply that I'm carrying on with her?"
"I certainly am. I'm not angry, Martin. I never was calmer than I
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: tone than I had ever heard her use before. It thrilled me while
she continued: "I mean, this thinking." She was back from the
remoteness of her meditation, very much so indeed. She rose and
moved away from the table, inviting by a sign the other to follow
her; which he did at once, yet slowly and as it were warily.
It was a conference in the recess of a window. We three remained
seated round the table from which the dark maid was removing the
cups and the plates with brusque movements. I gazed frankly at
Dona Rita's profile, irregular, animated, and fascinating in an
undefinable way, at her well-shaped head with the hair twisted high
up and apparently held in its place by a gold arrow with a jewelled
The Arrow of Gold |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: But most of us are neither one nor the other. The earth for us
is a place to live in, where we must put up with sights,
with sounds, with smells, too, by Jove!--breathe dead hippo,
so to speak, and not be contaminated. And there, don't you see?
Your strength comes in, the faith in your ability for
the digging of unostentatious holes to bury the stuff in--
your power of devotion, not to yourself, but to an obscure,
back-breaking business. And that's difficult enough. Mind, I am
not trying to excuse or even explain--I am trying to account
to myself for--for--Mr. Kurtz--for the shade of Mr. Kurtz.
This initiated wraith from the back of Nowhere honoured me
Heart of Darkness |
