Fear of the Unknown

Master Nathaniel's 'small, nameless fear' and the town's collective dread of Fairyland illustrate how fear of the mysterious and uncontrollable can poison individuals and societies.

The Sirens represent the perilous call of the unknown, from which a man may never return.

Master Nathaniel's life is poisoned by a small, nameless fear, generated by a single plangent note from an ancient lute, which haunts his dreams and makes him dread a hidden menace lurking in everyday life.

The horror and taboo surrounding Fairyland and fairy fruit reflect a deep societal fear of the mysterious and the otherworldly.

Master Nathaniel's anxiety about fairy fruit and the Note, and Ranulph's inexplicable terror at the sight of Portunus, reflect deep unease with hidden or supernatural elements.