Heartless (Metaphor)
Young Miranda was thought to be a genuine angel, for she was a lady of splendid beauty and immaculate manners. She looked and behaved like a queen. Consequently, people assumed that her soul was as perfect her physical appearance. However, the truth was that her heart was deaf to other people’s suffering. Miranda knew “the art to wind herself about” a man’s “heart”. She didn’t know what compassion was. Other people’s lives meant nothing, their feelings and emotions mattered even less. Miranda was like a hurricane, equally beautiful and dangerous. Such a pretty face was a mask that hided a heartless beast.
Faithfulness (Metaphor)
Just like any other man, Henrick noticed Miranda’s beauty. However, he managed to tame his wishes and desires. The vows he gave helped him to survive a loss of his beloved one, betrayal and a variety of other misfortunes, thus he cherished that new life of his and was determined to be a good monk. He guarded his heart “with walls of ice,” so that to be able to resist numerous temptations. Miranda’s words and deeds just helped to realize that the way he chose was the best for him.
Passion (Metaphor)
Henrick’s love for a beautiful maiden, his pleadings, and explanations, just helped to “blow his brother’s flame.” The man enjoyed the power he had and played with people’s lives as if it was a chess game. He didn’t really care either about Henrick or the maiden. He and Miranda were pretty much alike, both of them didn’t consider other people’s feeling worthy of their time and attention. The crimes they committed just proved that passion could be blinding and destructive.
The Prince Charming (Simile)
Henrick was “young and charming as the light, soft, witty, and ranging with an equal passion.” He was bathed in attention of the prettiest women, thus could change a lover after a lover, but his heart was taken by a fair maiden who loved him back with an equal ferocity. Henrick’s kindness and tenderness were used by his own brother, who decided to ruin Henrick’s happiness. Unfortunately for him, Henrick couldn’t even imagine that his own brother could betray him and deprive him of a chance at happiness.
Cunning (Simile)
Miranda’s cunningness was immeasurable. She was a dangerous opponent, who could easily destroy other people’s lives just for fun. To her credit, Miranda did believe that she was in love with Henrick in the very beginning of the story. The problem was that her love turned out to be a sick obsession. She accused Henrick of rape to teach him a lesson that she was a power to be reckoned with. Miranda said that Henrick was “deaf as the winds, and running as a storm.” The truth was that it was Miranda who was deaf and merciless like the most powerful storm.
