The dull, persistent gnawing in his breast started again. He drew up his legs, tossed the papers aside, and shut his eyes.
William is reacting to the anxious loss of his childhood joy in a slightly childish way. He feels a gnawing anxiety at a loss of these comforting childhood feelings and draws up his legs in response.
Mrs. Raddick was desperate, just desperate.
Another description of Mrs. Raddick as timid or desperate. The foil of the mother against the young girl implies interesting themes about maturity, sexuality, and familial power.
Mrs. Raddick’s timid, faintly astonished, but deeply admiring glance looked as if she believed it, too; but the daughter didn’t appear any too pleased—why should she?
This is an interesting implication into the power imbalance between Mrs. Raddick and her daughter. It implies that the daughter's physical appearance and attitude gives her considerable power over others around her, including her mother. Her mother is also described as timid beside her daughter.
A spasm of pity squeezed her heart. Poor little thing!
I wonder if her recent loss has caused Constantia to feel more sympathetic than usual. She feels pity for the mouse very acutely. I also wonder if perhaps this mouse may represent Constantia and her sister now: small, uncertain, powerless, and without the certainty that they will be provided for.
The giggle mounted, mounted; she clenched her hands; she fought it down; she frowned fiercely at the dark and said “Remember” terribly sternly.
Poor Constantia is struggling to cope with the death of her father. Not only did she lose a parent, but the class and time period central to the story imply that the girls have also lost their sole caretaker, guardian, and breadwinner. Her hysterical laughter may give us insight into how stressful the exhausting the situation has been up to this point. She knows it is an inappropriate response to the situation and she has no doubt been taught to always respond appropriately as is expected of a girl in her class. Now that she and her sister have the responsibility of making decisions for their late father, they are in a position that they never expected to be in.
Laura’s upbringing made her wonder for a moment whether it was quite respectful of a workman to talk to her of bangs slap in the eye. But she did quite follow him.
Laura wants to appear mature and competent in front of this workman. She thinks he might have said something inappropriate for their respective classes, but she isn't certain and wants him to think she knows what he's talking about.
They must
The author answers their own question. They already know the norms for this situation. They are simultaneously walking the reader through this experience, pointing out details, and establishing the rules. Upper class parties have their own norms that are difficult to understand as an outsider. The author helps walk us through this.
On forcing the door of the room, the deceased gentleman was discovered, dead, with the pillow of the bed over his face. The medical man who examined him, being informed of this circumstance, considered the post-mortem appearances as being perfectly compatible with murder by smothering–that is to say, with murder committed by some person, or persons, pressing the pillow over the nose and mouth of the deceased, until death resulted from congestion of the lungs.
Here is another example of Cuff succinct and pragmatic language. He gets right to the point, describes everything plainly and in detail, and does not mince any of his words. Its jarring but effective.
But few words are needed, on my part, to complete the narrative that has been presented in the Journal of Ezra Jennings.
An interesting aspect of Blake's narrative is that he is able to draw on the other narratives. Later he directly quotes Betteredge. It offers a level of reliability to Blake's narrative. He already has the facts. He knows what the others were thinking.
You will make allowance for his prejudices, I am sure, if you and he happen to meet?
It is interesting to see that Mr. Blake is doing his best to protect the reputations and good opinions of himself, Betteredge, and Mr. Jennings. He cares what they think and he is attempting to run interference between them in this precarious situation. Betteredge does not approve of his use of opium and Jennings is directly involved in these experiments. It shows a lot about Blake's character that he cares about both relationships and and is intent on maintaining propriety despite different ideals.
I inspired her with the strongest emotions of abhorrence and disgust. Let me not be vain enough to say that no woman had ever looked at me in this manner before.
I find this moment slightly amusing. Blake seems struck with the strength of emotion in his interaction with her but later he says: "The one interpretation that I could put on her conduct has, no doubt, been anticipated by everybody. I could only suppose that she was mad." For a well educated man, Blake seems rather ignorant or at least slow when it comes to understanding his interactions. I wonder how this scene played out from the other perspective.
in his own quaint way
As I mentioned in class discussion, I think it would be interesting to see which descriptors are used to refer to specific characters. Is there a way for us to extract the descriptions of Betteredge throughout the book? Blake describes Betteredge as "quaint". Do any other characters share this view? How do others see Betteredge? How does he see himself.
to guard her from all danger of becoming the victim in the future of some needy and unscrupulous man
Like Betteredge, it appears that Mr. Bruff has little faith in Rachel's independence. In this instance, he seems to be trying to act as a protective even parental figure. His relationship with her mother gives Mr. Bruff a degree of authority and the idea that he knows better than Rachel. Regardless of wether he DOES know better or not, this is another character establishing Rachel as a girl who does not seem to have much sense or wisdom to defend herself and her possessions from misfortune. Does Bruff, as a solicitor, really have her best interests at heart?
most wisely and most affectionately provided for.
Is this what he actually thinks? Again an example of Mr. Bruff trying to conform as an ally to whatever character he is speaking of. If you strip away his pandering what does he actually think?
Miss Verinder had her own private reason for breaking her marriage engagement–and I was at the bottom of it. Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite had his own private reason
Mr. Bruff seems to be the kind of person who is trying to stay on everyone's good side. He wont pick a side because he wants to benefit from a good relationship with everyone involved. He thinks somewhat strategically.
I passed over the manner in which she gave her message, and the dreadful boldness of her look. I thanked this young castaway; and I said, in a tone of Christian interest, “Will you favour me by accepting a tract?”
Miss Clack is the kind of Christian to adopt all the outward markers of a good and faithful person but in reality acts and thinks in a selfish and judgemental way. I find it interesting that she doesn't seem to be self aware of this.
the exhibition of Miss Clack’s character.
I think this is an interesting way to phrase this. Taken by itself, we may have taken Clack's narrative as the truth, but when examined beside the other narratives, her unreliability is exposed and her character traits (and flaws) become clear.
The man made of cotton had disappeared; and the man made of iron sat before me again.
I'm not sure how it would be possible, but I think it would be interesting to track character descriptions and even analogies. I think it would interesting to see how characters are described, both physically and otherwise.
Having let her little flow of nonsense run on as far as that point, her mother interposed and stopped her.
It certainly obvious that Miss Rachel and the other women are perceived as foolish or flighty by the narrator. I think this is another example of the unreliable narrator. This narrator is far too judgemental and biased to be taken completely seriously. What else might he be biased and blnded about?
The deity commanded that the Moonstone should be watched, from that time forth, by three priests in turn, night and day, to the end of the generations of men. And the Brahmins heard, and bowed before his will.
I predict that this novel may deal with colonialism and cultural theft, but I find it interesting that the author seems to be addressing the historical and cultural significance of the Moonstone, especially considering when this novel was written. I wonder how the author will address topics like theft, ownership, and the perspective of the original owners of the stone. How does this story play out from another perspective in comparison?
One of the wildest of these stories related to a Yellow Diamond–a famous gem in the native annals of India.
This reminds me of the recent scandal involving the YouTuber Emma Chamberlain. At the 2022 Met Gala, Chamberlain wore a yellow diamond choker that had allegedly been stolen from India by the British Empire during colonial times. The necklace, which was commissioned as an heirloom piece by Maharaja of Patiala, allegedly went missing in 1948 before it was auctioned to Cartier in 1982. Chamberlain faced controversy over the imperialist and colonialist roots of the diamond. I wonder if this novel will follow similar themes.