How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #4
The castle was enchanted to me, not to her. (20.6)
Rationalization reigns supreme as Sandy has a ready explanation for why the pigs still aren't pigs—belief in the supernatural can't be argued away easily because someone will always have an explanation. Hank has to make deep and abiding changes in the way the society thinks.
Quote #5
If I also would be sane—to Sandy—I must keep my superstitions about unenchanted and unmiraculous locomotives, balloons, and telephones, to myself. (21.2)
Ironic twist here: Sandy thinks Hank's beliefs in modern technology are superstitious. More importantly, he has to keep quiet about the technological changes he has planned, because people will think he's crazy. Belief in science = nuthatch. Belief in ogres and magic? That just might put you in the king's good graces.
Quote #6
If he had stepped in there and used his eyes, instead of his disordered mind, he could have cured the well by natural means, and then turned it into a miracle in the customary way; but no, he was an old numskull, a magician who believed in his own magic; and no magician can thrive who is handicapped with a superstition like that. (22.6)
Hank cuts right to the heart of the matter in explaining Merlin's failures. Could he and Merlin have been allies had Merlin not depended so much on belief in the supernatural? Or were they destined to be enemies, since Hank took Merlin's place as Arthur's chief advisor? It could be that one feeds into the other, since Merlin wouldn't be so afraid of losing his power if he didn't have anything but superstition to peddle.