Zofloya

“Not on the young, the ardent, and self-confident Victoria, but on her lovely attractive mother!”

This quotation describes Ardolph beginning to feel desire for Laurina. It exposes the expectation that Ardolph might be interested in Victoria, a young and beautiful girl, but contrasts this assumption with the reality that he lusts after her mother. Victoria and Laurina are presented as sexual rivals despite their mother-daughter relationship, introducing the theme of Sexual Jealousy and Rivalry Between Women.

“In admitting to her thoughts, even for an instant, any other man than her husband […] the unhappy Laurina had advanced one step in the path of vice.”

This quotation describes how Laurina begins to fall prey to Ardolph’s seductions, even though she is initially loyal to and in love with her husband. This quotation reflects the novel’s self-presentation as a kind of parable and moral warning, cautioning that if a woman engages in any illicit activity, however minor or even purely imaginary, it becomes almost impossible for her to avoid spiraling further. The quotation depicts Laurina as unlucky (“unhappy”) and unable to avoid her fate once Ardolph begins to pursue her.

“The only absolute original imperfection of Laurina was vanity and love of admiration.”

This quotation describes why Laurina is susceptible to seduction; unlike many of the other female characters, she is not motivated primarily by lust. Laurina is easily manipulated because she loves being complimented and flattered. Dacre depicts this character flaw as a common form of feminine weakness, likely seeking to warn her female readers who might be readily seduced.

“Berenza had awakened in her breast feelings and passions which had til now remained dormant, mighty and strong.”

This quotation describes how meeting Berenza contributes to Victoria’s growing willfulness and desire. Victoria actively desires Berenza, and the sexual desire triggers a more general stubbornness and rebelliousness. This awakened desire foreshadows how Victoria will later become obsessed with Henriquez and reveals how she gives free license to her desires and impulses.

“An ardent consuming desire to be situated like that unhappy mother—like her, to receive the attentions, listen to the tenderness, and sink beneath the ardent glances of a lover.”

This quotation reveals how Laurina’s choices influence Victoria’s ideas of propriety and sexuality. Because Victoria witnesses her mother engaging in an adulterous affair and abandoning her marriage, she believes she is entitled to have similar experiences. Victoria comes to see marriage as optional because her own mother defies social norms.

“Thus from the conduct, misjudging and inexcusable, that had been pursued towards her, did every violent and evil propensity of her nature become increased and aggravated.”

This quotation describes Victoria’s reaction when she learns she is being held captive at the home of Signora di Modena. The quotation develops Victoria’s character by showing that she tends to react with anger and hatred when someone comes between her and her desires. It also shows that Victoria is not open to reform or education: she fails to learn anything from her mother’s attempt to protect her, and she simply becomes angrier as a result.

“Thou canst no longer deprive me of a happiness similar to that which thou so selfishly enjoyest!—a happiness which, but for thee, my awakened fancy had never conceived.”

Victoria reflects on these thoughts when she arrives in Venice and goes to live with Berenza, intending to become his mistress. She thinks with satisfaction that she has undermined her mother’s attempts at keeping her chaste and gloats over the prospect of beginning an illicit sexual relationship.

“‘Can I,’ he asked himself, ‘be rationally happy, with a being imperfect as she now is?’”

This quotation reveals Berenza’s hesitation and reticence towards beginning a sexual relationship with Victoria. Although he is physically attracted to the beautiful young woman, Berenza finds Victoria’s assertive and forceful personality to be off-putting. While Berenza is licentious, he holds a double-standard and is uncomfortable when a young woman is just as bold and assertive as he is.

“Victoria’s heart was a stranger to every gentle, noble or superior feeling. The ambitious, the selfish, the wild, and the turbulent were her’s.”

This quotation describes Victoria’s sentiments during the period when Berenza hesitates over whether to begin a sexual relationship with her. Berenza wants to be certain that Victoria genuinely loves him, but this quotation clarifies that Victoria is not capable of true affection or tenderness. She desires Berenza and she wants to feel that she can attain her ambitions, but she does not truly love him.

“It was not his ardent character, his talents, or his virtues which attracted her distinguished regard;—no, it was the charms of his person, the beauty of his form and face.”

This quotation captures the reaction of Signora Zappi when she encounters Leonardo (who comes to stay with her family in Florence). The quotation makes it very clear that Signora Zappi responds to Leonardo’s body and appearance; her desire does not come from emotional connection or intellectual exchange. This quotation reveals Dacre’s interest in inverting nineteenth century conventions around gender and sexuality by depicting women as driven by lust, and men as largely driven by love and a longing for emotional connection.

“Venice, with all its dangers, became preferable in her eye to the gloomy sameness, though security of the country.”

The quotation describes Megalena’s emotions as she becomes bored of living in seclusion at her isolated villa. Even though it is risky for her to return to Venice with her new lover (Leonardo), Megalena wants to return to the city. This quotation showcases how Dacre relies on an urban setting (which is fairly unusual for a Gothic setting) and hints that assertive female characters might prefer an urban setting versus the traditional isolated and gloomy setting.

“Tremble, unfortunate and guilty mother, for longer and more gloomy becomes the register of thy crimes!”

This quotation occurs after Leonardo and Megalena flee from Venice after the attack on Berenza and Victoria. They will live as fugitives for the remainder of the plot, joining forces with the bandits and eventually dying violent deaths while evading authority. The narrator connects Leonardo’s downfall to his mother’s poor example: Laurina is depicted as to blame for the violence that destroys both of her children.

“Never was unconscious guest received with feelings and with thoughts so hostile as was the innocent Lilla by Victoria.”

This quotation sets the stage for the rivalry and violent conflict between Victoria and Lilla. As soon as she meets the couple, Victoria is attracted to Henriquez and therefore jealous of Lilla. The quotation shows that Lilla ends up in a dangerous situation because no one suspects Victoria of concealing hostility; as an older, married woman, she is seen as a natural confidante and chaperone for Lilla.

“That my energies are all enslaved, my powers fettered, by the hated name of wife.”

This quotation reveals Victoria’s initial logic as she yearns for Henriquez. She assumes that she could easily seduce him away from Lilla, and that Berenza is, therefore, the primary obstacle standing between her and the man she wants. This quotation shows that Victoria does not value her marriage. Instead, she sees it as a structure that constrains her freedom.

“She was now on the point of betraying her inmost thoughts, her dearest wishes, her dark repinings, and hopeless desires; of betraying them, too, to an inferior and an infidel.”

This quotation reveals Victoria’s hesitation about admitting her problem to Zofloya. Her adulterous desire for her husband’s brother is very risky to disclose, and Zofloya’s social position makes her even more uncertain. The quotation highlights what Victoria perceives as the social gulf between herself and Zofloya; she focuses on his social position as a servant and his religious beliefs, but these categories also carry associations with race.

“He had no hesitation in sacrificing to himself your young and beautiful person, for his gratification; and why should you hesitate now, at sacrificing him for yours?”

Zofloya speaks this quotation to Victoria when she initially balks at his proposal to murder Berenza. Zofloya argues that Berenza selfishly seduced Victoria (even though Victoria actively pursued him) and that she therefore is justified in liberating herself from the marriage by killing him. This quotation is an example of the rhetoric Zofloya deploys to entice Victoria into committing heinous acts.

“I will doubt thee no longer, powerful Moor […] for well do I now perceive thy infinite depth, and wisdom.”

Victoria gratefully speaks this quotation to Zofloya after he conceals the body of Berenza to avoid anyone realizing that Berenza was poisoned. The quotation shows how Victoria’s fate becomes more intertwined with Zofloya, and she becomes more reliant on him. At first, Zofloya pretends to do Victoria’s bidding, but over time he becomes more dominant and makes more decisions about how their plans will proceed.

“Henriquez, infinitely affected, raised in his arms her whom he believed was indeed the abashed and repentant Victoria.”

This quotation occurs after Victoria confesses her feelings for Henriquez following Berenza’s death. At first, Henriquez is repulsed, but Victoria quickly pretends to be ashamed. She feigns traditional markers of femininity and modesty, and this softens him. Henriquez is so conditioned by his understanding of femininity (and perhaps his experience with Lilla) that he is readily deceived by Victoria’s cunning and deceitful behavior.

“No word passed his lips—no sigh heaved his bosom, and exulting in his agonies, he died!”

This quotation describes Henriquez’s death: He dies by suicide after realizing he had sex with Victoria under the influence of the potion (he believed that she was Lilla). Henriquez believes that his only option for retaining agency over his own body (Victoria rapes him) is to die by suicide. The incident shows how seriously Henriquez takes his fidelity to Lilla.

“Clasping her thin hands upon her polished bosom, and with some of her long tresses, still in pure unaltered modesty, essaying to veil it.”

This quotation describes Lilla’s appearance when Victoria begins to taunt and attack her. Lilla’s appearance highlights her vulnerability by depicting her as frail and naked, but the description also sexualizes her by referencing traditionally feminized features such as her breasts and flowing hair. Particularly during the violent attack on Lilla, in which she is stabbed repeatedly and tries to flee, violence and sexuality are combined.

“Remember, poor Victoria, that independently of me, thou canst not even breathe!”

Zofloya speaks this quotation to Victoria after she disrupts their plans by killing Lilla. Victoria begins ignoring his instructions as she panics, and she is offended when he tries to tell her what to do. This quotation reveals the shifting power dynamic between the two characters, as Zofloya becomes more assertive and reveals his true nature. He has succeeded in making Victoria so dependent on him that she ultimately gives up her very soul.

“Oh inscrutable Moor!—thy language is ever indefinable.”

Victoria speaks this quotation after Zofloya has transported her to the Alps; she expresses her confusion about what he means when he alludes to a future time when he will claim her fully. Victoria thinks that Zofloya might be referring to the two of them beginning a sexual relationship and fails to realize that Zofloya is anticipating claiming her soul.

“But what hast thou gained? For I have deceived thee throughout.”

Zofloya speaks this quotation to Victoria in the final scene, after he reveals his true identity (Satan). Zofloya taunts Victoria by revealing that she has unwittingly surrendered her soul to him and is now eternally damned. He also shows that Victoria’s ambitions and desires were hollow and only led her to submit to him. She hasn’t gained anything, and Zofloya has been manipulating her all along.