The Portent · Chapter
X: Love and Power explained
The narrator, Duncan Campbell, struggles with his newfound power of will, which he inadvertently uses to summon Lady Alice from her sleepwalking state.
What happens
The narrator, Duncan Campbell, struggles with his newfound power of will, which he inadvertently uses to summon Lady Alice from her sleepwalking state. After she falls ill and avoids him, he battles temptation to use his power again, while also finding solace in Spenser's poetry. When Alice returns, she is distant and automatical, and the narrator must resist the urge to call her true self forth at night.
Themes in this chapter
The Power of Will and Desire
Duncan discovers his ability to summon Alice through sheer will, and later struggles to control this power, highlighting the theme's central conflict.
Love and Sacrifice
Duncan's love for Alice drives him to both use and resist his power, and he sacrifices his own peace to avoid harming her.
Madness and Identity
Alice's dual existence—sleepwalking and awake—raises questions about her true identity, and Duncan's obsession borders on madness.
Characters to notice
- Duncan Campbell
Struggles with his new power of will, which he uses to summon Lady Alice, and later resists the temptation to do so again.
- Lady Alice
Appears in her sleepwalking state, then falls ill, and later returns as a distant, automatical version of herself.
- Mrs. Wilson
Informs Duncan of Lady Alice's illness and recovery, but speaks with a mysterious tone.
- Lady Hilton
Shows scorn and dislike towards Alice, and warns Duncan not to speak to her.
Key passages
“Would to heaven that will were power!”
I wished that my will alone could make things happen.
This moment marks the beginning of Duncan's discovery of his supernatural ability.
“I shuddered from head to foot at what I had done. She was more terrible to me in that moment than any pale-eyed ghost could have been.”
I was horrified by my own action; seeing her appear like that was more frightening than seeing a ghost.
Duncan is shocked by the success of his will and the implications of his power.
“I knew that she was awake, some moments before she opened her eyes.”
I sensed that she had regained consciousness before she actually opened her eyes.
This shows the deep connection between them, as Duncan perceives her state without visual cues.
“There was something automatical in her movements; and a sort of frozen indifference was the prevailing expression of her countenance.”
She moved mechanically and her face showed a cold lack of interest.
Describes Alice's altered behavior when she returns to the family, contrasting with her nighttime self.