by Cheryl Kottke

Created on: August 14, 2009

M. Martin's love for his beloved panther is like all great passions. When first encountering this magnificent animal it is with great fear and uncertainty. As the fear begins to subside he examines his adversary a little closer, realizing it as a female, and acknowledging her beauty and gracefulness.

As he begins falling in love with her, fear starts to leave completely and he half unconsciously associates her with his first love, "...half unconsciously he thought of his first sweetheart, whom he had nicknamed Mignonne by way of contrast, because she was so atrociously jealous that all the time of their love he was in fear of the knife with which she had always threatened him."

He had fallen in love with this panther, and the panther had fallen in love with him. "The man and panther looked at one another with a look full of meaning." But, as with all great passions, there is always the underlying fear of being devoured by the other. Thus, causing the passion to be as painful as much as it is wonderful. "Ah, Mignonne! Cried the solder, caressing her enthusiastically, we're bound together for life and death - but no jokes, mind."

As with passion you see the beauty of the world and everything in it as never seen before. Things that seemed desolate or taken for granted before now has meaning and beauty. "This companionship permitted the provencal to appreciate the sublime beauty of the desert; now that he had a loving thing to think about."

Alas, as all great passions this one ended the same. The provencal kills his love from not understanding her and from the fear of being devoured he stabs her. "Ah, well! You see, they ended as all great passions do end by a misunderstanding. From some reason one suspects the other of treason; they don't come to an explanation through pride, and quarrel and part from sheer obstinacy." So, he kills his love without being certain about it and just as it is seen fading away you realize your mistake and would give your very life to get back to what you had. "She rolled over, giving a cry that froze my heart; and I saw her dying, still looking at me without anger, I would have given all the world, my cross even, which I had not got then to have brought her to life again."

Learn more about this author, Cheryl Kottke.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.