The Dweller of the Threshold

E939713

The Dweller of the Threshold is a mysterious occult entity in Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s novel "Zanoni," symbolizing the terrifying inner trials and spiritual dangers faced by those who seek forbidden knowledge and higher initiation.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
The Dweller of the Threshold canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fictional entity ⓘ
literary character ⓘ
occult entity ⓘ
symbolic figure ⓘ
appearsIn Zanoni ⓘ
associatedWith esoteric trials ⓘ
forbidden knowledge ⓘ
higher initiation ⓘ
occult initiation ⓘ
countryOfOrigin United Kingdom ⓘ
createdBy Edward Bulwer-Lytton ⓘ
describedAs mysterious ⓘ
occult ⓘ
terrifying ⓘ
firstAppearedIn Zanoni ⓘ
genre esoteric literature ⓘ
occult fiction ⓘ
hasMetaphoricalMeaning boundary between ordinary consciousness and higher states ⓘ
limit of safe human knowledge ⓘ
hasTheme confrontation with fear ⓘ
danger of unprepared spiritual advancement ⓘ
moral and psychological testing ⓘ
influenced Theosophical interpretations of initiation ⓘ
later occult literature ⓘ
interpretedBy Theosophists ⓘ
linked to: Theosophy

occultists ⓘ
languageOfWork English ⓘ
literaryMovementContext Victorian literature ⓘ
medium novel ⓘ
narrativeRole guardian of the threshold of higher knowledge ⓘ
obstacle to spiritual progress ⓘ
ontologicalStatusInFiction supernatural being ⓘ
partOf esoteric tradition in Victorian literature ⓘ
publicationContext Zanoni, 1842 novel ⓘ
linked to: Zanoni
relatedConcept guardian of the threshold ⓘ
occult initiation ordeal ⓘ
represents inner resistance to transformation ⓘ
karmic consequences of seeking power ⓘ
latent fears and unresolved guilt ⓘ
setInWorkOf Romantic-era occult narrative ⓘ
symbolizes confrontation with the shadow self ⓘ
inner spiritual trials ⓘ
perils of forbidden knowledge ⓘ
spiritual dangers ⓘ
tests of initiation ⓘ
targetAudienceContext readers interested in mysticism and occultism ⓘ
timeOfCreation 19th century ⓘ

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Zanoni → hasCharacter → The Dweller of the Threshold ⓘ