The Black Opal · Theme
The Power of Dreams and Illusion
How The Black Opal develops The Power of Dreams and Illusion.
Characters are sustained by dreams—Michael's vision of a perfect opal, Paul's fantasies of wealth, Sophie's hopes for a singing career—which both comfort and lead to disillusionment or tragedy.
Where it surfaces
- III
Paul dreams of leaving the Ridge with Sophie for a glamorous life in Sydney, a fantasy the other men dismiss as naive.
- XII
Michael's dream of a perfect opal sustains him; his brief fantasy of single-handedly changing the world is contrasted with his humble reality.
- XV
The moonlit garden and orange blossoms create a dreamlike escape for Sophie and Armitage, while Arthur Henty's poetic fantasy of Sophie as a 'fairy's child' underscores the allure and danger of romantic illusion.
- XVI
Sophie's pursuit of a singing career in America embodies the power of dreams, while Michael's illusions about controlling her fate are shattered.
- VI
Potch's dreamlike perception of Sophie—feeling the dream is more real than reality—highlights the theme of dreams blurring with reality.
- Chapter IX
The newspaper clipping describes Sophie's meteoric Broadway career and her mysterious retreat; Sophie's memories of the Warria ball and her longing to recapture youthful joy illustrate the power and fragility of dreams.