低階

低 = 亻 + 氐 : Dorothy Gale (di) and Rosa Luxemburg (亻) are in a hopeless situation. They are hanging down (低) from a foundation (氐) floating in front of the space station (Ø1) and away from it. In this hopeless situation their moods are very low (低) and they let their heads hang down (低).

阶 = 介 + 阝 : The pope (阝) sentenced Joan of Arc (ji) to death and wants to shoot her to outer space using a rocket (介) in front of the elevator (e1). He doesn't have a proper launch ramp, so he just uses some stone stairs (阶).