Yes," Nicholas replied, in a bored voice. "The name is…
““Yes," Nicholas replied, in a bored voice. "The name is Dutch. Dragonwyck, meaning place of the dragon. It derives from an Indian legend about a flying serpent whose eyes were fire and whose flaming breath withered the corn." "Heavens!" With a light laugh, Miranda asked her new employer if the red men had sent forth a champion to do battle with the dragon. The patroon's face was dark, unsmiling. "To appease him the wise men of the tribe sacrificed a pure maiden on the rocky bluff you see above you." Miranda's laughter died. Something in Nicholas Van Ryn's cruel, handsome features made her imagine herself in the Indian maiden's place.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The story reveals a dark, mythic past where sacrifice and fear intertwine, haunting the present.
In simple terms: Mythic past haunts now.
Key Takeaway
Beware repeating past horrors.
Themes
myth
sacrifice
fear
history
Mood
dark
dramatic
Type
literary
narrative
When to use this quote
- historical fiction
- family drama
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
legend
cultural memory
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What sacrifices does your culture remember?
- How do legends shape decisions?
A Different Perspective
Myths may be symbolic, not literal.