Piranesi

by

Susanna Clarke

Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet Character Analysis

Laurence Arne-Sayles is a professor and occultist responsible for the discovery of the House. He visits Piranesi during his time there, introducing himself as the Prophet and explaining his various theories. Notably, he does not offer to help Piranesi escape his imprisonment, a testament to his cruel, cold-hearted nature. Gradually, Piranesi realizes the Prophet is the same person as Arne-Sayles. He learns how Arne-Sayles used ancient magic to access the House and other magical worlds, and how despite being dismissed by the academic community, he gradually accrued a circle of devoted followers, among them Dr. Ketterley. A cruel man, Arne-Sayles, mistreated and manipulated his followers. All except one of them eventually dies in the labyrinth. Publicly, Arne-Sayles is linked to several missing persons cases, including the kidnapping and brainwashing of James Ritter, for which he is jailed for four years. Arne-Sayles is the subject of the book Matthew Rose Sorensen (Piranesi) is writing when he vanishes.

Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet Quotes in Piranesi

The Piranesi quotes below are all either spoken by Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet or refer to Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Human vs. Inhuman Worlds Theme Icon
).
Part 3 Quotes

I stopped reading and stood up, breathing hard. I had a strong urge to fling the Journal away from me. The words on the page—(in my own writing!)—looked like words, but at the same time I knew they were meaningless. It was nonsense, gibberish! What meaning could words such as ‘Birmingham’ and ‘Perugia’ possibly have? None. There is nothing in the World that corresponds to them. The Other was right after all. I had forgotten many things!

Related Characters: Piranesi/Matthew Rose Sorensen (speaker), The Other/Dr. Valentine Ketterley , Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet , Stanley Ovenden
Related Symbols: The House
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:

It occurs to me that there are many other ideas that I understand perfectly, even though no such things exist in the World. For example I know that a garden is a place where one can refresh oneself with the sight of plants and trees. But a garden is not a thing that exists in the World nor is there any Statue representing that particular idea… Instead, scattered about the House are Statues in which People or Gods or Beasts are surrounded by Roses or Strands of Ivy, or shelter under the Canopies of Trees… It is from these things that I deduce the idea of a garden. I do not believe this happens by accident. This is how the House places new ideas gently and naturally in the Minds of Men. This is how the House increases my understanding.

0111

Related Characters: Piranesi/Matthew Rose Sorensen (speaker), The Other/Dr. Valentine Ketterley , Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet , Stanley Ovenden
Related Symbols: The House
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 6 Quotes

This annoyed me. ‘I do not see why you say I can only see a representation in this World,’ I said with some sharpness. ‘The word “only” suggests a relationship of inferiority. You make it sounds as if the Statue was somehow inferior to the thing itself. I do not see that that is the case at all. I would argue that the Statue is superior to the thing itself, the statue being perfect, eternal, and not subject to decay.’

Related Characters: Piranesi/Matthew Rose Sorensen (speaker), 16/Raphael , Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet
Related Symbols: The House
Page Number: 222
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 7 Quotes

The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.

1011

Related Characters: Piranesi/Matthew Rose Sorensen (speaker), Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet (speaker)
Related Symbols: The House
Page Number: 222
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Piranesi LitChart as a printable PDF.
Piranesi PDF

Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet Quotes in Piranesi

The Piranesi quotes below are all either spoken by Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet or refer to Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Human vs. Inhuman Worlds Theme Icon
).
Part 3 Quotes

I stopped reading and stood up, breathing hard. I had a strong urge to fling the Journal away from me. The words on the page—(in my own writing!)—looked like words, but at the same time I knew they were meaningless. It was nonsense, gibberish! What meaning could words such as ‘Birmingham’ and ‘Perugia’ possibly have? None. There is nothing in the World that corresponds to them. The Other was right after all. I had forgotten many things!

Related Characters: Piranesi/Matthew Rose Sorensen (speaker), The Other/Dr. Valentine Ketterley , Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet , Stanley Ovenden
Related Symbols: The House
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:

It occurs to me that there are many other ideas that I understand perfectly, even though no such things exist in the World. For example I know that a garden is a place where one can refresh oneself with the sight of plants and trees. But a garden is not a thing that exists in the World nor is there any Statue representing that particular idea… Instead, scattered about the House are Statues in which People or Gods or Beasts are surrounded by Roses or Strands of Ivy, or shelter under the Canopies of Trees… It is from these things that I deduce the idea of a garden. I do not believe this happens by accident. This is how the House places new ideas gently and naturally in the Minds of Men. This is how the House increases my understanding.

0111

Related Characters: Piranesi/Matthew Rose Sorensen (speaker), The Other/Dr. Valentine Ketterley , Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet , Stanley Ovenden
Related Symbols: The House
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 6 Quotes

This annoyed me. ‘I do not see why you say I can only see a representation in this World,’ I said with some sharpness. ‘The word “only” suggests a relationship of inferiority. You make it sounds as if the Statue was somehow inferior to the thing itself. I do not see that that is the case at all. I would argue that the Statue is superior to the thing itself, the statue being perfect, eternal, and not subject to decay.’

Related Characters: Piranesi/Matthew Rose Sorensen (speaker), 16/Raphael , Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet
Related Symbols: The House
Page Number: 222
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 7 Quotes

The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.

1011

Related Characters: Piranesi/Matthew Rose Sorensen (speaker), Dr. Laurence Arne-Sayles/the Prophet (speaker)
Related Symbols: The House
Page Number: 222
Explanation and Analysis: