Dear Serial Readers,
We are nearing the end, my friends and
as we do so, I’m struck by this section’s explicit focus on reading, writing,
and –particularly—letters. With the action rapidly drawing to a close, we have
Mme. P pulled away to deal with family matters that seem to have no narrative
purpose except to put her at a deliberate distance. Why is it so important that
we read this section of the novel via letters and, discussion of letters,
journal entries, and narrative interpretation? I’m not sure I have the answer
to that question, but I can offer a couple themes that the shift brings to the
fore:
1. It
further highlights the limitations of Lucilla’s new vision. At first, she
cannot read or write because her doctor insists that it (like the truth) will
ruin her eyes. Then when she can read and write, being able to see doesn’t give
her any greater judgmental power. She can now write with her own hand, rather
than relying on an aid, but her caretakers are just as capable of concealing
the truth as they were when she was blind. In fact, they might be even better.
2. Delay.
Susan has already spoken about the role of postponement and delay in the novel
as we wait between plot points and serial publications. By making the
characters wait between letter deliveries, they too are forced to keep the pace
that their form of communication allows. And even then, the novel is liable to
hold back a key piece of evidence, like Miss Batchford and her stalled letter.
We might not like it, but we are told that it is good for us. We have to wait
until we’re ready.
3. Lucilla
gets a turn. The novel’s turn to letters and journals also represents the first
opportunity for the protagonist to tell her own story in her own words. We can
certainly talk about how successful that opportunity is for Lucilla, but it
does represent at least a partial change in perspective.
At this point we know that Lucilla is no longer afraid of
blue faces and at least Mme P thinks that Nugent is ashamed. Will Nugent follow
his better angels, will Oscar reappear from the ether, or is Lucilla going to
have to suss out the deception?
For next week: chapters 44-46.
Serially yours,
Rachel
1 comment:
I'm also intrigued that Lucilla gets to have a narrating voice at this stage of her recovered vision--although this journal is filled with interruptions as Mme. P breaks in with her own commentary. Of course, this sets up the question of how P. obtains L's private journal. And even when Lucilla gets to report what she sees, that account is mediated too.
I noted that a few times in these segments Lucilla observes that sight has made "a new creature of me"--and that her sense of sight will never be as reliable to her as her sense of touch. There's quite a lot in these pages about how she's trying to integrate sensory knowledge--the cat and dog example was my favorite.
And while Lucilla can sense that "Oscar" (ie, Nugent) is somehow different--his touch is different--she does hear this voice as Oscar's. Is her sense of hearing likewise confused with the restoration of her vision?
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