# III: Dr. Hesselius Picks Up Something in Latin Books explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.

## What happens

Dr. Hesselius visits Mr. Jennings and, while waiting in his study, examines a set of Swedenborg's Arcana Caelestia. He reads passages about the interior sight, evil spirits associated with man, and the dangers of consorting with spirits, and notices a private note by Jennings beginning 'Deus misereatur mei.'

## Themes in this chapter

### Faith and Skepticism

Hesselius engages with Swedenborg's theological writings, and Jennings' private plea 'Deus misereatur mei' suggests a personal crisis of faith.

### Supernatural and the Uncanny

The passages describe evil spirits, interior sight, and the dangerous consort between man and spirits, reinforcing the uncanny atmosphere.

## Character check-ins

### Doctor Hesselius

Narrator and visitor to Mr. Jennings' study; examines Swedenborg's works and observes Jennings' private note.

### Mr. Jennings

Owner of the study and the marked Swedenborg volumes; his private note 'Deus misereatur mei' is discovered by Hesselius.

## Key lines

> When man’s interior sight is opened, which is that of his spirit, then there appear the things of another life, which cannot possibly be made visible to the bodily sight.

When a person's spiritual vision is activated, they can perceive the afterlife, which is invisible to physical eyes.

_Swedenborgian concept of spiritual perception._

> If evil spirits could perceive that they were associated with man, and yet that they were spirits separate from him, and if they could flow in into the things of his body, they would attempt by a thousand means to destroy him; for they hate man with a deadly hatred.

If evil spirits realized they were connected to a human while remaining distinct, they would try every method to destroy him out of intense hatred.

_Warning about the danger of spirit association._

## Links

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