Thomasina, a student of Septimus, is found to be extremely intellectual, devising equations and theories that have not been discovered at that time. In the twentieth century, it is quite apparent that Valentine is compared to Thomasina as they both try to work on iteration, with Valentine having the advantage of twentieth century technology. Thomasina is also compared to Hannah as they both have the talent and intelligence to think outside the box to develop intellectual conclusions. .
Throughout the play the actions in both time frames parallel with each other. Props are employed in both time frames and are collected on the table so that the characters from the different eras are able to utilise them without confusing the audience. The tortoise, Plautus in the nineteenth century and Lightning in the twentieth century, remains on the table while the actions are taking place. Thomasina's books are used in the twentieth century as evidence for Hannah and Bernard. This is done until the end of the play, when eventually all the items are collected on the table. Those items that do not concern the nineteenth century, such as the modern version of the Mathematic Primers, are ignored. Sound effects used in the play, such as piano playing, also are parallel to each other.
The vast amount of parallels is used in Arcadia to convey the idea that is mention by Septimus. "We shed as we pick up and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The missing plays of Sophocles will turn up piece by piece, or be written again in another language. Ancient cures for diseases will reveal themselves once more. Mathematical discoveries glimpsed and lost to view will have their time again." Thomasina's death in the fire, foreshadowed in Septimus's speech, is similar to the burning of the great library of Alexandria. Although it is unfortunate for Thomasina to die without finishing her discoveries of various phenomena, such as thermodynamics, and Mathematical theory, such as iteration, like Septimus has said, they are not lost.