| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Octopus by Frank Norris: Abruptly there was presented to his mind's eye a picture of the
years to come, if he now should follow his best, his highest, his
most unselfish impulse. He saw Hilma, his own, for better or for
worse, for richer or for poorer, all barriers down between them,
he giving himself to her as freely, as nobly, as she had given
herself to him. By a supreme effort, not of the will, but of the
emotion, he fought his way across that vast gulf that for a time
had gaped between Hilma and the idea of his marriage. Instantly,
like the swift blending of beautiful colours, like the harmony of
beautiful chords of music, the two ideas melted into one, and in
that moment into his harsh, unlovely world a new idea was born.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy: you do not marry from your school friend's, but from mine. It would be
more proper, I think, since I am, as you say, the person nearest related
to you in this part of the world.
I don't see why you sign your letter in such a new and terribly formal way?
Surely you care a bit about me still!--Ever your affectionate, JUDE.
What had jarred on him even more than the signature was a little
sting he had been silent on--the phrase "married relation"--
What an idiot it made him seem as her lover! If Sue had written
that in satire, he could hardly forgive her; if in suffering--
ah, that was another thing!
His offer of his lodging must have commended itself to Phillotson
Jude the Obscure |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Confidence by Henry James: natives of a country in which marriages may be legally dissolved."
Angela stared; then, softly--
"Are you speaking of a divorce?"
"I believe that is what they call it," Gordon answered,
gazing back at her with his densely clouded blue eyes.
"The lawyers do it for you; and if she goes away with Lovelock,
nothing will be more simple than for me to have it arranged."
Angela stared, I say; and Bernard was staring, too. Then the latter,
turning away, broke out into a tremendous, irrepressible laugh.
Gordon looked at him a moment; then he said to Angela, with a deeper tremor
in his voice--
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