# Ashtoreth explained — The Book of Jade

> Chapter companion for The Book of Jade by David Park Barnitz.

## What happens

The speaker addresses Ashtoreth, a pale and divine figure standing in moonlight, likening her to a dead goddess of the night. He prostrates before her, offering solemn praise with a golden censer.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and Decay

Ashtoreth is described as a 'dead goddess' and a 'moon-idol of the buried time,' emphasizing death and decay.

### Eroticism and the Femme Fatale

The speaker's adoration of Ashtoreth's pale, divine form and the sensual imagery of the censer and perfume evoke eroticism.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who addresses Ashtoreth and offers praise.

### Death

Ashtoreth is described as a 'dead goddess,' invoking death imagery.

## Key lines

> Thou seemest some dead goddess of the night, O starry love, O changeless Ashtoreth.

You appear like a deceased nocturnal deity, my celestial and eternal love, Ashtoreth.

_The speaker elevates Ashtoreth to a divine, immortal status while associating her with death._

> So I prostrate before thy deity, Unto thy face have solemn praises sung, And in my hands a golden censer swung.

Thus I bow down before your divinity, singing solemn praises to your face while swinging a golden censer.

_The speaker adopts a posture of worship, using ritualistic language and imagery._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se/chapters/part-i-ashtoreth
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se/chapters