# Full Tide explained — The Sword of Damocles

> Chapter companion for The Sword of Damocles by Anna Katharine Green.

## What happens

Mr. Sylvester struggles with his growing love for Paula, despite his past and the presence of Mr. Ensign. As Paula is drawn into society and Mr. Ensign's attentions, Bertram's joy over Cicely's affection reaches a peak. At a private entertainment, Mr. Sylvester follows Paula, and a play within the chapter mirrors his emotional turmoil.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Mr. Sylvester's internal conflict between his love for Paula and his past sins, and his willingness to sacrifice his own happiness for her.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The contrast between Mr. Sylvester's composed exterior and his inner turmoil, and the way society perceives him.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Sylvester

Struggles with his love for Paula, feeling the conflict between his past and his desire for happiness.

### Paula

Drawn into society, surrounded by Mr. Ensign's attentions, unaware of Mr. Sylvester's inner turmoil.

### Mr. Ensign

Persistent in his courtship of Paula, becoming a rival to Mr. Sylvester.

### Mr. Mandeville

In a state of repressed expectancy, his joy over Cicely's affection is palpable.

### Cicely Stuyvesant

Uncommunicative but her face glows with the joy of being loved by Bertram.

## Key lines

> Man thinks he is strong, and lays his foundations, raises his walls, and dreams of his completed turrets, without reckoning the force of the gales or the insidious inundating of the waters that may bring low the mounting structure before its time.

People believe they are in control of their lives, but unforeseen forces can destroy their plans.

_This metaphor introduces Mr. Sylvester's internal struggle._

> It is comparatively easy to restrain your own hand from snatching at a treasure you greatly covet, but it is much more difficult to behold another and a lesser one grasp and carry it away before your eyes.

It's easier to resist temptation yourself than to watch someone else take what you desire.

_Mr. Sylvester's jealousy of Mr. Ensign._

> A golden net seemed to be closing around her, and, though as yet, she had given no token of a special recognition of her position, Miss Belinda betrayed by the uniform complacence of her demeanor, that she for one regarded the matter as effectually settled.

Paula is being courted by Mr. Ensign, and her aunt already considers the match inevitable.

_The social pressure on Paula to accept Mr. Ensign._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/xxxii-full-tide
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters