Obsession and Fascination with Opal

Where it surfaces

• I

  Paul's overwhelming excitement about the opal strike overshadows his wife's death, highlighting the obsession with opal.

• III

  The men display a worshipful appreciation of black opal, and Paul is childlike in his fascination with the stones.

• X

  Dawe Armitage's passion for black opal and the mesmerising effect of the stones on beholders highlight the theme of obsession.

• XI

  Armitage admits the opal business has 'got' him; Dawe hoards stones like a child; Snowshoes loves opal more than money; the story of opal corrupting guards illustrates its mesmerizing power.

• XII

  Michael's dream of finding a great black opal and his reverence for beautiful stone are explored.

• XIV

  Sophie's necklace, made from opals given by miners, and the opal earrings and brooch she wears highlight the central role of opals in the community's identity and personal adornment.

• I

  Michael is deeply captivated by the beauty and mystery of the opals, spending time in rapt contemplation of their colors and fire.

• III

  Michael's mesmerization by Paul's opals and Potch's knobby reveals the hypnotic power of opal, leading to moral decay.

• IV

  Dawe Armitage travels from New York solely to see Potch's opal, treating it with reverence and awe.

• VII

  The broken opal serves as a symbol of luck and loss, central to Sophie's guilt and Potch's forgiveness.

• XIII

  Michael's inability to return the opals to Paul, despite his intentions, illustrates the seductive power and witchery of the stones over him.

• XVI

  Michael admits the opals 'got hold of him,' deferring their return and feeling reluctant to part with them, showing the stones' corrupting allure.

• XVII

  Arthur's obsession with Sophie parallels the consuming allure of opal, driving him to destructive extremes when his desires are thwarted.