Phase Three: The Precipice - Deepening the Effect Through Extreme Measures

Goal

• Make everything deeper, intensifying emotional impact.
• Create love and attachment by oscillating between hope and despair.
• Show willingness to go far with noble or chivalrous deeds.

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 16: Prove Yourself

• Key Concept: Prove dedication through extreme actions.
• Strategies:
  • Perform self-sacrificing deeds to show sincerity.
  • Spur others to prove themselves by being hard to reach.
• Examples:
  • Count Grandma winning over Marion DeLorme by shaming a rival Duke.
  • Pauline Bonaparte's deepened affection for Major Canoville due to his daring actions.
  • Gabriele D'Annunzio proving himself through dangerous war exploits and public missions.
  • Sir Lancelot's relentless pursuit for Queen Guinevere despite trials.
  • Tulia D’Aragona maintaining her elevated image by inspiring competition among admirers.

Chapter 17: Effect a Regression

• Key Concept: Exploit childhood desires and traumas.
• Regression Types:
  • Infantile: Unconditional love creates dependency.
  • Oedipal: Mixed affectionate and disciplinary approach mimics parental relationships.
  • Ego Ideal: Embody youthful ideals. Appeal to nostalgic, romantic aspirations.
  • Reverse Parental: Act as a dependent, evoking protective parental instincts.
• Examples:
  • Victor Hugo’s dependency on Juliet Druet.
  • Professor Moot manipulated by Rosa Frelie.
  • Francois Rene de Chateaubriand’s rekindled spirit through Madame Recamier.
  • King James I of England seduced by George Villars, who exploited his protective instincts.

Chapter 18: Stir Up the Transgressive and Taboo

• Key Concept: Break societal taboos to deepen engagement.
• Strategies:
  • Encourage morally dubious actions to confuse and enchant.
  • Apply spiritual or philosophical justifications to mask true intentions.
• Examples:
  • Lord Byron’s provocative love affairs stirring societal backlash and fascination.
  • Junichiro Tanizaki’s “Quicksand” portraying seductive manipulation to transgress norms.
  • Various libertines and seducers drawing out rebellious desires.

Chapter 19: Use Spiritual Lures

• Key Concept: Distract from physicality by invoking spirituality.
• Strategies:
  • Present seduction as a cosmic or spiritual union.
  • Utilize rituals, mysticism, and elevated themes.
• Examples:
  • Natalie Barney's use of poetry and mysticism to seduce women.
  • Rasputin’s blend of spiritual and physical seduction.
  • Rodolf Boulanger’s fusion of spirituality and seduction in “Madame Bovary”.

Chapter 20: Mix Pleasure with Pain

• Key Concept: Interweave love with discomfort to heighten intensity.
• Strategies:
  • Alternate affection with withdrawal or cruelty.
  • Use jealousy or emotional manipulation to create dependency.
• Examples:
  • Don Mateo and Conchita Perez in “Woman and Puppet” represent a cycle of affection and torment.
  • Oriana Fallaci’s interrogative technique alternating harshness and kindness to break defenses.
  • Standhal’s observations on rejection and love.
  • Cleopatra’s use of apparent danger to bind Mark Antony.
  • Duke Ellington keeping women enchanted through playful engagements and theatrical separations.