Nathaniel and Olympia's Illusory Bond

Traces Nathaniel's one-sided, delusional love for the automaton Olympia.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

First sighting

The Seed of Obsession The Glimpse Nathaniel saw Olympia through the glass door. She was beautiful but motionless. The Mystery He was intrigued by her stillness. He thought she might be simple-minded but was drawn to her. The Beginning This sighting planted the seed of a delusional attachment.

Love through the looking-glass

The Illusion of Love The Animated Eyes Through the looking-glass, Olympia's eyes appeared to come alive. Nathaniel believed she was looking at him with love. The Obsession He spent hours gazing at her. He forgot Clara. He believed Olympia was his soulmate. The Self-Deception Nathaniel projected his own desires onto Olympia. He saw her silence as profound understanding.

Courtship and fantasy

The One-Sided Romance The Daily Visits Nathaniel visited Olympia, read his poetry, and held her hand. She never spoke except to say 'Oh, Oh!'. The Interpretation He believed she loved him. He ignored her mechanical responses. The Proposal He decided to marry her. He fetched his mother's ring. The bond was entirely in his imagination.

Destruction of the bond

The Shattering The Revelation Olympia was a doll. The bond was based on a lie. The Madness The shock destroyed Nathaniel's mind. He could not accept the loss of his illusion. The End The bond ended in madness and death. The illusory love was never real.

Early in Nathaniel's studies

After purchasing the looking-glass

Weeks after the party

The day of the proposal