She · Chapter
Endnotes explained
The endnotes provide editorial commentary and additional observations by Horace Holly and the Editor, clarifying details about the ruins of Kôr, Ayesha's character and motives, the embalming practices of the ancient Korians, the Amahagger's
What happens
The endnotes provide editorial commentary and additional observations by Horace Holly and the Editor, clarifying details about the ruins of Kôr, Ayesha's character and motives, the embalming practices of the ancient Korians, the Amahagger's superstitions, and discrepancies in the accounts of Kallikrates' death. They also reflect on themes of love, beauty, cynicism, and the moral complexities of Ayesha's actions.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Obsession
Holly reflects that Ayesha believed love was the only thing worth living for, and she was willing to commit murder to achieve it.
Power and Corruption
Holly discusses how absolute power and extreme age can lead to moral cynicism and a disregard for conventional ethics.
Beauty and Ugliness
Holly ponders whether love for a woman depends on her personal appearance, and what would happen if she became dreadful to look on.
Immortality and Mortality
The endnotes question Ayesha's invulnerability and the effects of her extreme age on her character and actions.
Characters to notice
- Horace Holly
Provides extensive footnotes and reflections on Ayesha's character, the ruins of Kôr, and the events of the narrative.
- Ayesha
Discussed in terms of her moral nature, her love for Leo, her chemical knowledge, and her account of Kallikrates' death.
- Leo Vincey
Mentioned in relation to his hair regaining color and as the object of Ayesha's love.
- Billali
Noted for his fear of entering the haunted city of Kôr and his reliance on Ayesha's protection.
- Kallikrates
His death is discussed, with a discrepancy between Ayesha's account and the potsherd inscription.
- Amenartas
Mentioned in connection with the potsherd account of Kallikrates' death and the tragic journey with his body.
- The Amahagger
Described as superstitiously avoiding the ruins of Kôr despite using tombs for linen and fuel.
Key passages
“It is perfectly true that Ayesha committed a murder, but I shrewdly suspect that, were we endowed with the same absolute power, and if we had the same tremendous interest at stake, we would be very apt to do likewise under parallel circumstances.”
Holly admits Ayesha killed someone, but suggests that anyone with her power and stakes might do the same.
Holly's moral relativism regarding Ayesha's murder of Ustane.
“Now the oldest man upon the earth was but a babe compared to Ayesha, and the wisest man upon the earth was not one-third as wise. And the fruit of her wisdom was this, that there was but one thing worth living for, and that was Love in its highest sense, and to gain that good thing she was not prepared to stop at trifles.”
Ayesha's immense age and wisdom led her to value love above all else, justifying any means to achieve it.
Holly's analysis of Ayesha's core motivation.
“What a terrifying reflection it is, by the way, that nearly all our deep love for women who are not our kindred depends—at any rate, in the first instance—upon their personal appearance. If we lost them, and found them again dreadful to look on, though otherwise they were the very same, should we still love them?”
Holly questions whether romantic love is fundamentally based on physical beauty, and if it could survive a loss of that beauty.
Holly's philosophical musing on the nature of love and appearance.
“Billali told me that the Amahagger believe that the site of the city is haunted, and could not be persuaded to enter it upon any consideration. Indeed, I could see that he himself did not at all like doing so, and was only consoled by the reflection that he was under the direct protection of She.”
The Amahagger, including Billali, fear the haunted ruins of Kôr and only enter under Ayesha's protection.
The superstition of the Amahagger regarding the ancient city.
