A Vision: An Explanation of Life Founded upon the Writings of Giraldus and upon Certain Doctrines Attributed to Kusta Ben Luka

“‘The old painters,’ he said, ‘painted women with whom they would if they could have spent the night or a life, battles they would if they could have fought in, and all manner of desirable houses and places, but now all is changed, and God knows why anybody paints anything.’”

Antithesis is evident in the juxtaposition between the old painters and the current ones. While the old painters had clear motivations and passions for their subjects, the current painters seemingly lack that direction. This contrast serves to underscore the loss of clear inspiration or purpose in modern art, according to the speaker.

“All dreams of the soul

End in a beautiful man’s or woman’s body.”

The parallelism of “man’s or woman’s body” emphasizes the universal nature of this sentiment, suggesting that dreams and aspirations, regardless of gender, gravitate toward a similar ideal of beauty. It also gestures toward The Interplay of Duality and Unity, invoking the opposites of man and woman to highlight their parity.

“The diagram of the Great Wheel shows a series of numbers and symbols which represent the Lunar phases; and all possible human types can be classified under one or other of these twenty-eight phases.”

The term “Great Wheel” serves as a metaphor that evokes imagery of cycles, continuity, and destiny. The wheel, often associated with cyclical processes, reinforces the notion of recurring phenomena. Furthermore, the mention of “Lunar phases” introduces assonance through the repetition of the “u” sound in “Lunar” and “human.” This subtle echo establishes a connection between the celestial and the human, hinting at the intrinsic bond between the two.