"Death, as he had said, cancelled all engagements."
The Duke contemplates his hopeless situation and realizes that death could be the easy way out, as it would end all of his earthly troubles. However, he decides against it as it would be cowardly. This quote now symbolizes the finality of death, and how it can be seen as a solution to our problems, but it is not the only way out.
“A crowd, proportionately to its size, magnifies all that in its units pertains to the emotions, and diminishes all that in them pertains to thought.”
After the Duke's piano performance, the crowd's resolution to die with him for Zuleika becomes firm. Beerbohm explains the phenomenon by stating that when emotions are present in a group, they become amplified and overpower any rational thought. In such cases, individuality becomes obsolete and the emotional turbulence takes over.
“A cynosure indeed! A hundred eyes were fixed on her, and half as many hearts lost to her.”
When Zuleika descends from the train and joins the crowd, she stands out with her radiant beauty. This quote emphasizes her magnetic allure and the hold she has over everyone who lays eyes on her. It's like she is a precious gem in a sea of ordinary glass, and her attraction is so intense that even the most resolute men can't help but fall for her. This enchanting power ultimately leads to the tragic ending of the novel.
"Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds."
This quote comes from the Duke of Dorset as he contemplates his love for Zuleika. He muses on the nature of love, and concludes that if love is truly genuine, it will not change or fade away even if the object of that love changes or is altered in some way. This quote highlights the Duke's steadfast devotion to Zuleika, even as he recognizes the danger of his infatuation.
"Beauty is ever to the lonely mind a shadow fleeting; she is never plain. She is a visitor who leaves behind the gift of grief, the souvenir of pain"
This quote speaks to the theme of the dangers of beauty, as it suggests that beauty can be both fleeting and painful. Zuleika's beauty is such that it leaves a lasting impression on those who encounter her, but that impression is not always positive. The quote also touches on the idea of loneliness, as it suggests that beauty is often experienced by those who are lonely and seeking some kind of connection or solace.
"I was a dream, a fantasy, a creation of your fancy; yet you loved me"
This quote is spoken by Zuleika to the Duke, as she laments the fact that he is willing to die for her despite the fact that she is not a real person, but merely a figment of his imagination. This quote speaks to the idea of illusion and reality, as Zuleika represents a kind of idealized, unattainable beauty that the Duke has created in his mind. Despite this, he still loves her deeply, which suggests that love can exist even in the realm of fantasy and imagination.
