Essay Questions

What does the author mean when he writes, “I wish to have her in my house till my head is as white as the top of soracte in winter”?

Henryk Sienkiewicz is making use of the literary device simile to contrast Petronius' wishes to having Lygia. He is building castles in the on how it feels to hold Lygia in his arms and compress her to his bosom. He wishes to gasp with her breath. He further says that if Lygia could have been a slave, he might have exchanged her with a hundred maidens. His major wish is to have Lygia in his home until his head is as white as the pinnacle of the soracte in iciness. Through this comparison, the reader can conceptualize the main reason behind why Petronius is dying to get hold of Lygia.

How does Henryk Sienkiewicz use Lygia’s description to depict the sense of sight to the reader?

Sienkiewicz provides a precise description of how Lygia is envisaging herself as a sufferer for a cause. Sienkiewicz writes, “With wounds on her feet and hands, white as snow, beautiful with a beauty not of earth, and borne by equally white angels into the azure sky; and her imagination admired such a vision.” Through this description, the reader is able to see the soul of Lygia and her character more vividly. She is a true Christian and she is ready to suffer for the sake of doing what is good according to gospel teachings.

Why does the author of this novel portray Chrysothemis as a corrupt woman?

When Petronius asks Chrysothemis if she loves him, she does not deny that she feels something special for him. Then, Petronius proposes to put a ring on her finger when he says, “Yes; to put rings on thy toes.” However, Chrysothemis insists that he has to put a value of her first before she accepts the ring. She needs a reward for their relationship. This is not only ironic but also using love to corrupt Petronius. Love is a gift from God and no one is supposed to pay for it. However, Chrysothemis wants a prize for it. A deeper analysis of Chrysothemis shows that she is an opportunist who uses any opportunity to ask for rewards.