| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: and definite--not to forgive her; only one vivid desire--to
forget her. And this must be made clear to her--and to
himself--by frequent repetition. That was his idea of his duty
to himself--to his race--to his respectable connections; to the
whole universe unsettled and shaken by this frightful catastrophe
of his life. He saw it clearly and believed he was a strong man.
He had always prided himself upon his unflinching firmness. And
yet he was afraid. She had been all in all to him. What if he
should let the memory of his love for her weaken the sense of his
dignity? She was a remarkable woman; he could see that; all the
latent greatness of his nature--in which he honestly
Almayer's Folly |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Cratylus by Plato: is the expression of a thing in letters or syllables; for if you say both,
you will be inconsistent with yourself.
CRATYLUS: I quite acknowledge, Socrates, what you say to be very
reasonable.
SOCRATES: Then as we are agreed thus far, let us ask ourselves whether a
name rightly imposed ought not to have the proper letters.
CRATYLUS: Yes.
SOCRATES: And the proper letters are those which are like the things?
CRATYLUS: Yes.
SOCRATES: Enough then of names which are rightly given. And in names
which are incorrectly given, the greater part may be supposed to be made up
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