# XXI explained — Festus

> Chapter companion for Festus by Philip James Bailey.

## What happens

In a garden bower by the sea, Lucifer and Elissa share a tender, philosophical parting. Lucifer speaks of his love for Night and for Elissa, while Elissa expresses her unwavering faith in God and love. They discuss the nature of mind, dreams, death, and humanity, with Elissa defending mankind and asserting that love is the highest wisdom. Lucifer departs, and Festus reflects on honor and love.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Lucifer and Elissa's dialogue centers on love as the highest wisdom and the driving force of existence, with Elissa asserting that love is God's great command.

### Divine and Human Relationship

Elissa argues for God's existence and love, while Lucifer questions why God did not make Himself evident, highlighting the tension between faith and doubt.

### Mortality and Immortality

Elissa reflects on sleep as part of immortality and dreams of Death's hall, while Lucifer questions why anything that dies should be sad.

## Character check-ins

### Lucifer

Expresses love for Night and Elissa, debates the existence of God, and departs to attend to affairs in Hell.

### Elissa

Defends humanity and God's existence, shares a dream of Death's hall, and reaffirms love as the highest principle.

### Festus

Briefly appears at the end, reflecting on honor as his strongest passion and his intention to visit Hell.

## Key lines

> The strongest passion which I have is honour: I would I had none: it is in my way.

Festus admits that his desire for honor is his most powerful drive, but he wishes he did not have it because it hinders him.

_Festus reflects on his own character after Lucifer departs._

> Nay, man’s chief wisdom’s love⁠—the love of God. The new religion⁠—final perfect, pure⁠— Was that of Christ and love.

Elissa declares that the highest human wisdom is love, specifically love of God, and that Christ's religion is ultimately about love.

_Elissa articulates the central theme of love as the essence of faith._

> And even the step from death to deathlessness⁠— From this earth’s gross existence unto Heaven⁠— Can scarce be more than from the harsh hot day To sleep’s soft scenes, the moonlight of the mind.

Elissa suggests that the transition from mortal life to immortality is no more dramatic than moving from a harsh day into the gentle realm of sleep.

_Elissa uses a metaphor to minimize the fear of death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/festus_se/chapters/xxi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/festus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/festus_se/chapters