# XIV: A Soul in Hell explained — She

> Chapter companion for She by H. Rider Haggard.

## What happens

Holly secretly observes Ayesha performing a ritual of cursing and mourning over the preserved body of Kallikrates. She expresses her undying love and torment over having killed him two thousand years ago, and her inability to forget or die. Holly, overwhelmed by the horror, retreats and later reflects on his own fears and desires, including his concern for Leo's illness and his own conflicted feelings toward Ayesha.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Obsession

Ayesha's obsessive love for Kallikrates drives her to curse his lover and mourn for two thousand years.

### Immortality and Mortality

Ayesha's immortality is portrayed as a curse, as she cannot die or forget her past sins.

### Jealousy and Revenge

Ayesha curses the memory of the Egyptian Amenartas out of jealousy and desire for revenge.

## Character check-ins

### Horace Holly

Holly secretly watches Ayesha's ritual, is terrified and horrified, and later reflects on his own fears and desires.

### Ayesha

Ayesha performs a ritual of cursing and mourning over Kallikrates' body, expressing her torment and undying love.

### Kallikrates

Kallikrates' preserved body is the focus of Ayesha's ritual and mourning.

### Leo Vincey

Leo is mentioned as lying ill with fever, asleep, with Ustane at his side.

### Ustane

Ustane is seen dozing at Leo's bedside, holding his hand.

## Key lines

> Shall I raise thee, so that thou standest there before me, as of old? I can do it

Ayesha offers to reanimate Kallikrates' corpse, but decides against it.

_Ayesha's power over death is shown, but she acknowledges the futility of raising a body without a soul._

> Two thousand years have I wanted and endured; but though century doth still creep on to century, and time give place to time, the sting of memory hath not lessened

Ayesha laments that two thousand years of life have not dulled her pain or memory.

_Highlights the theme of immortality as a burden._

> Curse her, the daughter of the Nile, because of her beauty. Curse her, because her magic hath prevailed against me.

Ayesha curses the Egyptian Amenartas for her beauty and magic that took Kallikrates from her.

_Shows Ayesha's jealousy and vengeful nature._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se/chapters/xiv-a-soul-in-hell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se/chapters