The beetle king makes a call to his community for those worthy to unlock the mystery that is the fire.
First of all, the professor accepts the deed, believing he can seek the answer, yet unsuccessfully returning. I believe the professor is symbolic of pride and arrogance (just because he is professor he thinks he knows everything) - cardinal sins.
Unable to find an answer, the King asks again. The fire is greater now and this time he offers a reward. The lieutenant accepts. I believe he also represents pride, and I also believe he may stand for envy as he implies he can do better than the professor. Once again returning without success, I believe the professor and lieutenant both represent the cardinal sins. The King now takes his turn.
'his majesty's hourglass is drawn nigh' indicates that it is the King's time to die. He is a true leader, seeking answers and standing up for his people. I believe he represents the virtues. 'Distribute all we've known as wealth to the poor and alone' indicates he is charitable, and also implies that he is getting ready to go to heaven - we leave this life with no belongings. As the character of moral worth he must die.
I believe the fire represents heaven. The fire is a powerful and glorifying thing, and it is the 'unknown'. The king's singed rising body is symbolic of his soul rising up to heaven. 'Our beloved's not dead', he is only living with God.
The beetle king makes a call to his community for those worthy to unlock the mystery that is the fire. First of all, the professor accepts the deed, believing he can seek the answer, yet unsuccessfully returning. I believe the professor is symbolic of pride and arrogance (just because he is professor he thinks he knows everything) - cardinal sins.
Unable to find an answer, the King asks again. The fire is greater now and this time he offers a reward. The lieutenant accepts. I believe he also represents pride, and I also believe he may stand for envy as he implies he can do better than the professor. Once again returning without success, I believe the professor and lieutenant both represent the cardinal sins. The King now takes his turn.
'his majesty's hourglass is drawn nigh' indicates that it is the King's time to die. He is a true leader, seeking answers and standing up for his people. I believe he represents the virtues. 'Distribute all we've known as wealth to the poor and alone' indicates he is charitable, and also implies that he is getting ready to go to heaven - we leave this life with no belongings. As the character of moral worth he must die.
I believe the fire represents heaven. The fire is a powerful and glorifying thing, and it is the 'unknown'. The king's singed rising body is symbolic of his soul rising up to heaven. 'Our beloved's not dead', he is only living with God.