The Pursuit of Ylajali

The protagonist's obsessive, erratic relationship with the woman he names Ylajali, from first sight to final rejection.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

First Sight and Stalking

First Sight and Stalking The Blush and the Book Walking down Castle Hill, the protagonist brushes past two ladies. One blushes deeply, and he is captivated. He invents the name Ylajali on the spot. He follows them, repeating 'You are losing your book, madam!' to create confusion. His behavior is erratic, half-mad, driven by hunger and a strange excitement. The Window Encounter The women enter a house at St. Olav's Place. The protagonist waits outside. She appears at a window and looks at him. He feels a wrench, a delicate shock. He mutters her name and feels a rare gladness. Then he runs away, ashamed. The Invention of Happolati Later, in the park, he tells an old man that Ylajali is the daughter of Happolati, a Persian minister, a princess on a couch of yellow roses. This fantasy merges with his obsession.

The Night Vision

The Night Vision The Dream of the Palace In the guardhouse cell, the protagonist dreams of Ylajali's palace. He imagines her in a hall of amethyst, on a throne of yellow roses, calling him 'knight.' He envisions gardens with three hundred maidens, and a crimson room of ruby. The dream is a refuge from his hunger and despair. The Awakening He is awakened by the policeman. The dream collapses, leaving him in bitter despondency. The vision of Ylajali becomes a torment, a symbol of unattainable beauty and comfort. The Fantasy Persists Even in his waking hours, he composes fantasies about her. She becomes the focus of his romantic longing, blending with his delusions.

The Evening Walk

The Evening Walk The Waiting Figure For several evenings, a woman in black stands under a lamp-post opposite the protagonist's door. He realizes it is Ylajali. He finally speaks to her. She confesses she has been standing there for a whim. They walk together through Carl Johann Street. The Conversation She is curious about him, asks about his life. He is ashamed of his poverty, but she is kind. She mentions she lives with her deaf mother and her sister has gone to Hamburg. He calls her Ylajali again, and she does not object. The Kiss at the Door At her door, she lifts her veil, and they kiss passionately. She runs inside. He is ecstatic, but also aware of his unworthiness. The encounter gives him a new sense of purpose.

The Visit to Her Apartment

The Visit to Her Apartment The Invitation They meet again at St. Olav's Place. She suggests he come up, as her mother is out. He is nervous, aware of his shabby clothes. She leads him inside, and they sit on the sofa. The Confession He confesses his poverty and his theft of five shillings. She is shocked and frightened. He tries to reassure her, but she becomes distant. She is afraid of his intensity, and he senses her withdrawal. The Farewell He leaves in confusion, feeling rejected. He tries to make a dignified exit, but she kisses him again. He is uncertain of her feelings. The evening ends with a sense of failure.

The Anonymous Gift

The Anonymous Gift The Half-Sovereign After being evicted from the lodging house, a commissionaire delivers an envelope with a half-sovereign. The protagonist knows it is from Ylajali. He is filled with shame and anger. He throws the money at the landlady. The Humiliation He realizes that she pitied him. His pride is wounded. He cannot accept charity from her, especially after his confession. The gift underscores his degradation. The Final Farewell He does not see her again. As he signs on the ship, he thinks of her with bitterness and longing. The relationship ends unresolved, a symbol of the impossibility of connection in his state.

Late morning, Part I

Night, Part II

Evening, Part III

Tuesday evening, Part III

End of Part IV