Jurgen · Chapter
XXXIX: Of Compromises in Hell explained
Jurgen, now Emperor of Noumaria, finds himself in Hell but is disappointed by its anachronistic and crude methods.
What happens
Jurgen, now Emperor of Noumaria, finds himself in Hell but is disappointed by its anachronistic and crude methods. He learns that his wife, Dame Lisa, cannot enter Hell due to her self-righteousness, so he resolves to seek her in Heaven. During his stay, he has a flirtatious affair with Phyllis, Satan's wife, and later lives with the vampire Florimel, though he feels she loves his title more than him. He reflects on the futility of Hell's democratic war against Heaven and decides to move on.
Themes in this chapter
Compromise and Conformity
Jurgen compromises by engaging in a flirtation with Phyllis and a relationship with Florimel, despite his reservations, and conforms to Hell's social norms while critiquing them.
Illusion vs. Reality
Jurgen perceives Hell as a crude illusion and Florimel's love as based on his imperial title, not his true self, highlighting the gap between appearance and reality.
Self-Deception and Identity
Jurgen deceives himself about his motives for seeking Lisa and his relationships, and struggles with his identity as an emperor versus his true self.
Characters to notice
- Jurgen
Emperor Jurgen, seeking his wife Lisa, finds Hell's democracy and methods crude, and engages in a flirtation with Phyllis and a relationship with Florimel, though he feels misunderstood.
- Phyllis
Satan's wife, a lovely devil with bat-like wings, with whom Jurgen exchanges jokes through a grating, finding her skilled at repartee.
- Florimel
A vampire who becomes Jurgen's wife in Hell, but he suspects she loves his imperial title more than him, and he is disturbed by her habit of seducing and murdering young men.
- Grandfather Satan
The jealous husband of Phyllis, with enormous horns, who keeps her locked away.
- Dame Lisa
Jurgen's wife, an acidulous shrew whose self-righteousness bars her from Hell; Jurgen deduces she must be in Heaven.
- Koshchei
Implied as the creator of Hell, which Jurgen considers an anachronistic notion of his ancestors.
- Coth
Jurgen's father, mentioned as having invented Florimel, with whom Jurgen had no tastes in common.
Key passages
“Why, this place appears to me a glaring anachronism, said Jurgen, brooding over the fires of Chorasma: and its methods of tormenting conscientious people I cannot but consider very crude indeed.”
Jurgen thinks Hell is outdated and its torture methods are primitive.
Jurgen criticizes Hell's inefficiency and antiquity.
“One has to do the manly thing sometimes.”
Sometimes a man must act with courage and duty.
Jurgen justifies his quest to find Lisa as a manly obligation.
“It is my title she loves, not me, reflected Jurgen, sadly, and her affection is less for that which is really integral to me than for imperial orbs and sceptres and suchlike external trappings.”
Jurgen believes Florimel loves his imperial status, not his true self.
Jurgen feels isolated by his title and doubts Florimel's genuine affection.