# Love and Desire in The Tour

> Theme guide for The Tour by Louis Couperus.

Multiple forms of love appear: Lucius's obsessive grief for Ilia, Cora's unrequited devotion expressed through song, Caleb's pragmatic yet affectionate pursuit of Cora, and the eventual romantic union between Lucius and Cora.

## Where it surfaces

- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/i): Lucius's passionate love for Ilia, a slave he treated as a queen, is the source of his anguish and the hymn to Aphrodite underscores themes of love and yearning.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/vii): Cora's song to Aphrodite vividly expresses her unrequited love for Lucius, highlighting themes of desire and devotion.
- [The Festival of Serapis at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/viii): Cora's hymn to Aphrodite and the romantic encounters in the reeds highlight themes of love and longing.
- [The Dream at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/x): Lucius's dream is dominated by his love for Ilia, and the prophet identifies his soul as sick with sorrow and love.
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xi): Caleb's passionate proposal to Cora and her confession of love for Lucius highlight unrequited and forbidden desire.
- [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xii): Tamyris's obsessive and unrequited desire for Lucius drives the chapter, culminating in his disillusionment.
- [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxvi): Cora's passionate confession of love for Lucius and their physical embrace under the stars highlight the theme of romantic desire.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/themes/love_and_desire
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/themes