# III: Dream-Fugue: Founded on the Preceding Theme of Sudden Death explained — Suspiria de Profundis

> Chapter companion for Suspiria de Profundis by Thomas De Quincey.

## What happens

In a dream-like fugue, the narrator recounts visions of sudden death and resurrection, beginning with a summer scene on the ocean where an unknown lady on a pinnace disappears into the shadow of his ship. A frigate chase ensues, followed by a vision of a girl drowning in quicksand, then a ride through a cathedral carrying the secret word 'Waterloo and Recovered Christendom.' The chapter culminates in a meeting with a baby girl, a dying trumpeter, and a resurrection scene where God's angel snatches the young girl from ruin, glorifying divine love.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Grief

The chapter explores the agony of sudden death, the horror of drowning, and the grief of loss in visions of war and disaster.

### Dreams and the Subconscious

The entire chapter is a dream-fugue, blending subconscious visions of death, resurrection, and divine intervention.

### Divine and Moral Order

God's angel intervenes to rescue the young girl, emphasizing divine love and the moral order of resurrection and redemption.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

The dreamer who experiences visions of sudden death, the pinnace lady, the frigate chase, and the ride through the cathedral.

### Madonna

The unknown lady from the dreadful vision, seen on the pinnace and later standing amidst the shrouds of the frigate.

### Girl Drowning in Quicksand

A young girl sinking in quicksand, rescued by God's angel in the vision.

### Jesus Christ

Referenced as the source of resurrection and life, and as God's angel who snatches the girl from ruin.

### Cyclops the Charioteer

Implied as the charioteer driving the narrator's equipage through the cathedral.

### The Noble Captain

Mentioned in the context of the frigate chase and the captain's role in the vision.

## Key lines

> Passion of sudden death! that once in youth I read and interpreted by the shadows of thy averted signs!

The intense emotion of sudden death, which I first understood in my youth through the obscure hints you gave.

_The narrator reflects on his youthful encounter with the concept of sudden death._

> The dreadful word shone by its own light; before us it went; high above our leaders' heads it rode, and spread a golden light over the paths which we traversed.

The secret word 'Waterloo' glowed with its own radiance, leading us and illuminating our journey.

_The word 'Waterloo' is personified as a guiding, luminous force._

> Oh, baby! I exclaimed, shalt thou be the ransom for Waterloo?

Oh, baby! I cried, must you be the sacrifice for the victory at Waterloo?

_The narrator fears the baby girl might be a casualty of the war's aftermath._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/suspiria_de_profundis_se/chapters/iii-dream-fugue-founded-on-the-preceding-theme-of-sudden-death
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/suspiria_de_profundis_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/suspiria_de_profundis_se/chapters