The Annotated Nexus - Page 13

13.0 Continuing from page 12, Miller discusses the methods with which Mona and Stasia each deal with "evil" in the world. Miller then wonders what the truth is regarding Stasia's apparent release from a mental hospital: was it by Mona's tearful coaxing of the medical staff, a favour from Dr. Kronski, or were the wards just overflowing?

13.1 "she walked through fire unharmed"
Miller's description of Mona's ability to waltz through life (especially the "fire" of the underworld cirlces she sometimes asociated with) without incident, which he attributes to her fearlessness ("almost nothing in life frightened her").

13.2 "she wore amulets to ward off the evil powers"
This in reference to Stasia, who "had a nose for Evil," "To Stasia the Devil was an omnipresent Being ever in wait for his victim." For this reason she wore amulets for protection, made signs "on entering a strange house," and sometimes "repeated incantations in strange tongues."

13.3 "It's the Slav in her"
Mona attributes the use of "magic" by Stasia to her Slavic background. I made an attempt to find something about the stereotypical character of the Slavic people with regards to superstition, but could not find anything concise.

13.4 "the authorities had placed Stasia in Mona's hands"
The authorities in this case would be those in charge of the mental hospital Stasia was being held at (see 10.1 - page 10). This is a reference to Mona's claim, part of her lie; probably an excuse to allow Stasia--her secret lover--to move in with them.

13.5 Kronski
[see Page 9 - 9.2] Kronski's version of the story of Statsia's release is that he was the one responsible for her release (not Mona) and that she is not in Mona's care (not in anyone's). Still, Miller isn't sure why Kronski is "interested in the case," except, possibly, that Mona's had pleaded with him. "In the back of my head was the resolution to visit the hospital myself one fine day and find out precisely what occurred. (Just for the record)."

Miller ends the page with a mention of "the Village," which is covered in more detail on the next couple of pages.

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