The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Poor and Proud by Oliver Optic: made her stronger and truer, as temptation resisted always makes
the soul. That year of experience had given Katy a character; it
expanded her views of life, and placed her in a situation where
she was early called upon to decide between the right and the
wrong; when she was required to select her path for life. She had
chosen the good way, as Ann Grippen had chosen the evil way.
I do not mean to say her character was formed, or that having
chosen to be good, she could not afterwards be evil. But the
great experiences of life which generally come in more mature
years, had been forced upon her while still a child; and nobly
and truly had she taken up and borne the burden imposed upon her.
|
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 She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: nectar of your lips; perhaps I might be disappointed in that too.
MISS HARDCASTLE. Nectar! nectar! That's a liquor there's no call for
in these parts. French, I suppose. We sell no French wines here, sir.
MARLOW. Of true English growth, I assure you.
MISS HARDCASTLE. Then it's odd I should not know it. We brew all
sorts of wines in this house, and I have lived here these eighteen
years.
MARLOW. Eighteen years! Why, one would think, child, you kept the bar
before you were born. How old are you?
MISS HARDCASTLE. O! sir, I must not tell my age. They say women and
music should never be dated.
She Stoops to Conquer |