# XVII: The Balance Turns explained — She

> Chapter companion for She by H. Rider Haggard.

## What happens

Ayesha arrives to find Leo at death's door and recognizes him as her lost Kallikrates. She forces Ustane to leave, administers a healing potion, and later engages in a tense philosophical discussion with Holly about religion and human nature, while also toying with his emotions.

## Themes in this chapter

### Immortality and Mortality

Ayesha's power to heal Leo from the brink of death highlights the tension between mortal frailty and her immortal wisdom.

### Love and Obsession

Ayesha's immediate recognition of Leo as Kallikrates and her possessive reaction reveal her obsessive love across centuries.

### Power and Corruption

Ayesha's absolute command over Ustane and Holly demonstrates her corrupting influence and the intoxicating nature of her power.

### Knowledge and Forbidden Wisdom

Ayesha's philosophical discourse on religion and her claim to have lived through ages underscore her forbidden knowledge of history and human nature.

## Character check-ins

### Horace Holly

Narrates the chapter; pleads for Leo's life, falls to his knees in worship of Ayesha, and debates theology with her.

### Leo Vincey

Lies at the point of death; Ayesha recognizes him as Kallikrates and administers a healing potion.

### Ayesha

Arrives, identifies Leo as Kallikrates, heals him, flirts with Holly, and discusses religion and philosophy.

### Ustane

Forced to leave Leo's side by Ayesha's command; obeys after a tense moment.

### Job

Leaves the room when ordered, glad to escape his fear of Ayesha.

## Key lines

> comest in a good time, Ayesha," I said, "for my boy lies at the point of death." "So," she said softly; "provided he be not dead, it is no matter, for I can bring him back to life, my Holly."

Holly tells Ayesha that Leo is dying, and she calmly replies that as long as he isn't dead yet, she can revive him.

_Ayesha's confidence in her healing powers is established early in the chapter._

> There lies—there lies my lost Kallikrates. Kallikrates, who has come back to me at last, as I knew he would, as I knew he would;

Ayesha identifies the dying Leo as her long-lost lover Kallikrates, whom she expected to return.

_This moment reveals Ayesha's belief in reincarnation or fate, tying Leo to her past._

> I fell upon my knees before her, and told her in a sad mixture of languages—for such moments confuse the thoughts—that I worshipped her as never woman was worshipped, and that I would give my immortal soul to marry her,

Holly, overwhelmed by Ayesha's beauty, kneels and declares his love, offering his soul to marry her.

_Holly's passionate outburst illustrates the seductive power Ayesha holds over men._

> The religions come and the religions pass, and the civilisations come and pass, and naught endures but the world and human nature.

Ayesha argues that religions and civilizations are transient, while the world and human nature remain constant.

_This reflects Ayesha's cynical, long-view philosophy shaped by her immortality._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se/chapters/xvii-the-balance-turns
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se/chapters