The Blazing World

When the Duchess appears, she apologizes for her bad handwriting. The Empress states that a secretary will transcribe it. To create their kabbalah, the Duchess suggests consulting a famous Jewish figure like Moses, but the Empress trusts the spirits more. The Duchess worries that the spirits are as unknowing as humans on certain subjects, and advises leaving scriptural interpretation to experts. The Duchess rejects the Empress’s ideas for what kind of kabbalah to create. A philosophical kabbalah is out because their work must probe further than what is knowable through logic and reasoning. A moral kabbalah runs counter to faith, as morality is very straightforward to God. A political kabbalah is dismissed because government is only concerned with reward and punishment. Then, the Duchess suggests a poetic or romantic kabbalah that uses figurative language, which allows for wider interpretation. The Empress agrees. Before the Duchess is sent back to her world, she asks to visit occasionally. They become close, becoming Platonic lovers, an intimate and deep type of friendship.

On her next visit, the Duchess is noticeably upset, admitting that she wants to be a princess. The Empress reassures her that a duchess outranks a princess, since a duchess earns her title and a princess inherits hers.