The Sword of Damocles · Chapter
IX: Paula explained
Edward Sylvester returns to Grotewell in the winter, drawn by a vision of Paula rather than by the memory of his mother's grave.
What happens
Edward Sylvester returns to Grotewell in the winter, drawn by a vision of Paula rather than by the memory of his mother's grave. He visits the school where Paula lives with her aunts, Miss Belinda and Miss Abby. He is struck by Paula's extraordinary beauty and her poetic, intelligent nature. Their conversation reveals a deep connection, as Paula remembers him from a meeting ten years prior. Miss Belinda, who has been her teacher, expresses anxiety about losing Paula, hinting at a possible future where Paula leaves their care.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance vs. Reality
Edward Sylvester's initial impression of Grotewell is one of pain and gloom, but his encounter with Paula transforms the ordinary parlor into a 'bower fit for the habitation of princes.' Her outward beauty seems to reflect an inner, poetic reality.
Secrets and Past Sins
Edward Sylvester's return to Grotewell is shrouded in painful memories. The narrative hints at a 'shadow' and a 'life's joy or a heart's sorrow' connected to the place, and his wife's cold look suggests a hidden history.
Characters to notice
- Edward Sylvester
Returns to Grotewell after ten years, driven by a vision of Paula. He is deeply moved by her beauty and intellect, feeling a sense of new life in her presence.
- Paula
Now a young woman of extraordinary beauty and a poetic, dreamy nature. She remembers her first meeting with Mr. Sylvester and is inspired by his presence, revealing her love of knowledge and imagination.
- Aunt Belinda
Paula's teacher and guardian. She is a strong, intelligent woman who has cultivated Paula's talents. She expresses anxiety about the possibility of losing Paula, suggesting a deep attachment.
- Miss Abby
Paula's other aunt, who is meek and timid. She leaves the room to fetch Paula and later adds a simple, practical compliment about Paula's domestic skills.
Key passages
“The stars of midnight shall be dear To her; and she shall lean her ear In many a secret place Where rivulets dance their wayward round, And beauty born of murmuring sound Shall pass into her face.”
Paula is a child of nature, deeply connected to the beauty of the world around her, which shapes her inner and outer self.
The chapter opens with this Wordsworth quote, setting the tone for Paula's character as a poetic and natural soul.
“It was to search out and gaze again upon the innocent girl, whose eloquent eyes and lofty spirit had so deeply moved him in the past, that he had braved the chill of the Connecticut hills and incurred the displeasure of his wife.”
Edward Sylvester's primary motivation for returning to Grotewell was not to visit his mother's grave, but to see Paula again, whose spirit had made a lasting impression on him.
This clarifies the true purpose of Sylvester's journey, revealing his deep interest in Paula.
“She is a very remarkable girl, Mr. Sylvester, a genius I suppose some would call her, a child of nature I prefer to say.”
Miss Belinda describes Paula as an exceptional and naturally gifted young woman, preferring to see her as a product of her environment rather than a conventional genius.
This introduces Paula's unique character from an external perspective.
“I more than like it; it feeds me. Knowledge has its vistas too... I can never outgrow my recognition of the portals it discloses or the fairyland it opens up to every inquiring eye.”
Paula explains that study is not just a pastime but a necessity for her, as it opens up new worlds and feeds her imagination.
This reveals Paula's intellectual passion and her poetic way of understanding the world.