Mademoiselle De Lafontaine – in right of her father, who…
““Mademoiselle De Lafontaine – in right of her father, who was a German, assumed to be psychological, metaphysical and something of a mystic – now declared that when the moon shone with a light so intense it was well known that it indicated a special spiritual activity. The effect of the full moon in such a state of brilliancy was manifold. It acted on dreams, it acted on lunacy, it acted on nervous people; it had marvelous physical influences connected with life. Mademoiselle related that here cousin, who was mate of a merchant ship, having taken a nap on deck on such a night, lying on his back, with his face full in the light of the moon, had wakened, after a dream of an old woman clawing him by the cheek, with his features horribly drawn to one side; and his countenance had never quite recovered its equilibrium.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A tale describing how a full moon’s intense light influences dreams, madness, and physical appearance, leading to a distorted face.
In simple terms: Full moon affects mind and body, causing strange dreams and facial distortion.
Key Takeaway
Beware of attributing too much power to celestial events.
Themes
myth
psychology
physiology
Mood
curious
skeptical
Type
folklore
psychological
When to use this quote
- Nighttime observations
- medical folklore
- creative writing
Key Concepts
lunar influence
dream interpretation
psychosomatic effects
Questions to Reflect On
- Can lunar cycles truly affect health?
- What psychological effects do myths have?
A Different Perspective
Scientific explanations may contradict folklore.