| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: "We're all white here," murmured Jordan.
"I know I'm not very popular. I don't give big parties. I suppose
you've got to make your house into a pigsty in order to have any
friends--in the modern world."
Angry as I was, as we all were, I was tempted to laugh whenever he opened
his mouth. The transition from libertine to prig was so complete.
"I've got something to tell YOU, old sport----" began Gatsby. But Daisy
guessed at his intention.
"Please don't!" she interrupted helplessly. "Please let's all go home.
Why don't we all go home?"
"That's a good idea." I got up. "Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a drink."
The Great Gatsby |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: with the Company? I've a great liking for Halket myself, he's a real good
fellow, and he's done me many a good turn--took my watch only last night,
because I was off colour; I'd do anything for him in reason. But, I say
this flatly, I couldn't and wouldn't fly in the face of the authorities for
him or anyone else. I've my own girl waiting for me down in the Colony,
and she's been waiting for me these five years. And whether I'm able to
marry her or not depends on how I stand with the Company: and I say,
flatly, I'm not going to fall out with it. I came here to make money, and
I mean to make it! If other people like to run their heads against stone
walls, let them: but they mustn't expect me to follow them. This isn't a
country where a man can say what he thinks."
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