denied the existence of God to his companions in public-houses
Religion seems to be a very prominent topic in many of these stories. I find it interesting that Mr. Doran actually denied the existence of God, perhaps indicating that he is more of a scientific, straight-forward man.
The upper part of the hall was now completely dark
This villianizes the older uncle to some extent because he forgets about the bazaar in the first place, making it so the narrator is unable to make it to the bazaar in time to buy a gift for Mangan's sister. This narrative of villianization is present in the The Sisters and The Encounter to some extent, as well.
josser
Josser is an interesting word to use here. In British English it means "a man, typically an old man or one regarded with some contempt", but in Australian English it mean "a clergyman". It is interesting because this word describes both the man in The Encounter, as well as Father Flynn in the The Sisters.
That night I slept badly
The meaning here is somewhat ambiguous. The narrator might have slept badly due to excitement, or perhaps these negative apprehensions might be foreshadowing something bad happening.
THERE was no hope for him this time: it was the third stroke.
The first sentence sets the tone for the ominous tone in the rest of this introduction. Not only does this foreshadow the death of a character, but it creates a sense of mystery surrounding the death.
Old Mr. Neave stared at his youngest daughter; he felt he had never seen her before. So that was Lola, was it? But she seemed to have forgotten her father; it was not for him that she was waiting there.
It seems as if Mr. Neave is so committed and obsessed with his work life that he feels out of place in his home life that is dominated by his family that he no longer recognizes. From this text, we can see that this condition also goes both ways, as Mansfield indicates that Lola seems to have forgotten her father to some extent as well.
hydrangeas—famous in the town—were coming into flower; the pinkish, bluish masses of flower lay like light among the spreading leaves
I noticed that flowers are a recurring theme in each of Katherine Mansfield's short stories. According to an online flower symbolism website, hydrangeas represent opulence and abundance, and their colors symbolize love, harmony and peace. To Mr. Neave, the flowers symbolize his children and the presence of young life, but harmony and peace are two things that are lacking in his own personal life. Using hyponyms and hypernyms, it could be possible to analyze each of the occurrences of flowers in Mansfield's work computationally.
Quite suddenly he hadn’t the energy, he hadn’t the heart to stand this gaiety and bright movement any longer; it confused him. He wanted to stand still, to wave it away with his stick, to say, “Be off with you!” Suddenly it was a terrible effort to greet as usual—tipping his wide-awake with his stick—all the people whom he knew, the friends, acquaintances, shopkeepers, postmen, drivers.
Mr. Neave's sudden disillusionment with spring is something that escapes even his understanding, confusing him. Typically, there is a positive correlation between mood and seasonal weather, but this character introduction foreshadows that there are deeper factors that are causing Mr. Neave's unhappiness.
She leaned against the wall, tapping with her foot, pulling up her gloves and trying to smile. But deep inside her a little girl threw her pinafore over her head and sobbed.
I find it admirable that Leila is able to hide her emotions and still put on a happy face at the ball. I think it shows that even though Leila and the old man shared such a depressing conversation, she still wants to make the most of her evening and enjoy herself at her first ball. Though she may be introverted and nervous, she still understands the importance of living in the present.
azaleas were separate flowers
Flowers seem to be a recurring theme in many of Katherine Mansfield's stories.
But every single thing was so new and exciting
As compared to her quiet and isolated country life, a formal ball is an altogether completely different social experience that is unfamiliar for Leila.
my children
Interesting that Isabel refers to her guests as "my children". Reminds me of the previous annotation I made that compared Isabel to Titania, "Queen of the Fairies". That relationship seems more parasitic than mutual, at least in the eyes of William.
Titania
Moira compares Isabel to Titania, the Queen of the Fairies, in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. In the Shakesperian play, Titania is the strong-willed and independent wife to Oberon, who fight frequently and both have extramarital affairs. An interesting comparison to make.
He thought she looked so beautiful that he had to say something, “You look very cool.” “Do I?” said Isabel. “I don’t feel very cool.
Calling someone "cool" is definitely semantically and connotatively different that "beautiful", which is the meaning William intended to convey. We can see from this interaction that William has difficulty properly expressing himself to Isabel, which could be a significant contributing factor to their struggling relationship.
Just because I’ve got to know really congenial people
Earlier in the text, it is clear that William has a negative attitude towards Isabel's friends. Here, Isabel defends them as "congenial people". From his description of other people in the train car, we can see that he has a judgemental character, but I wonder where William's negative attitudes come from
William pressed back his flattened hair and stretched his legs across the carriage floor
Why is he sitting on the floor of a first class train carriage? Seems like a very uncomfortable way to travel.
a flower that is just emerging from its dark bud.
The motif of flowers is something that relapses in the closing sentence of the passage. Earlier in the text, we learned that Mrs. Raddick's daughter cannot bear flowers. For this reason, it's interesting that the narrator compares her to a flower emerging from its dark bud in the final sentence. One possible reading is that flowers take a long time to blossom, and as rooted in the soil in which they grow. Perhaps her general dislike of flowers represents her desire to prove herself as mature and grown-up, in order to move away from her family and start a future of her own.
black-and-gold town
The descriptive imagery used in this text really makes the passage come to life. The "black-and-gold town" likely refers to an illuminated city at nighttime. As a reader, I really appreciate this type of descriptive writing when trying to imagine and visualize the story.
Oh, shut up, mother,” said she wearily. “Come along. Don’t talk so much
This dialogue provides an introduction for the power dynamic in the relationship between Mrs. Raddick and her daughter. Or maybe her daughter is just in a bad mood.
“Isn’t it curious, Jug,” said she, “that just on this one subject I’ve never been able to quite make up my mind?”
The irony here is that Constantia and Josephine are portrayed as highly indecisive characters, unable to make decisions about anything, not just about eggs, fish, or Kate. They seem almost helpless, and I wonder how they will able to manage as orphans from this point on with the inability to make up their minds on any subject.
That was what they felt more than ever when, two mornings later, they went into his room to go through his things.
I wonder why this is no mention of their mother. Perhaps she is too also dead, which would make Josephine and Constantia orphans? Or maybe as a wealthy family, she is on a business trip away from the family? Given that the father has his own room, and the mother has not returned for the important funeral yet, I am assuming the former.
Jug
"Con" seems like a logical abbreviation for Constantine, but "Jug" for Josephine seems a little odd in my opinion.
Constantia and Josephine
Katherine Mansfield makes no mention to the ages of the daughters in this text. Currently, I am imagining Constantia and Josephine as teenagers, but it would be nice to have this information since they could be children or young adults, for all we know.
buttah
I noticed that Katherine Mansfield purposely colloquializes words that are spoken by those who aren't wealthy or upper-class. I believe this portrays working-class and lower-class people as improper or uneducated, and emphasizes this social distinction through speech.
“Do you think father would mind if we gave his top-hat to the porter?” “The porter?” snapped Josephine. “Why ever the porter? What a very extraordinary idea!”
The difference in social standing between the working class porter and wealthy upper-class family is that makes this idea seem ridiculous. Right away, we can see similarities between Constantia and Laura in their ability to look past these social dynamics whereas their families are unable to do so.
I’m ’er sister, miss. You’ll excuse ’er, won’t you?
I think the pronunciation of "'er" instead of "her" is meant to portray the subtle difference in language between social classes. This colloquial language is meant to portray her as informal and uneducated.
“My dear!” trilled Kitty Maitland, “aren’t they too like frogs for words? You ought to have arranged them round the pond with the conductor in the middle on a leaf.”
Comparing the band members to frogs... It seems as if Laura is the only person who attempts to look past class distinctions and treat people as people.
A man killed
Wow! That took an unexpected turn. If Betteredge were here, his detective fever would be kicking in right about now.
“H’m, going to have a band, are you?” said another of the workmen. He was pale. He had a haggard look as his dark eyes scanned the tennis-court. What was he thinking? “Only a very small band,” said Laura gently. Perhaps he wouldn’t mind so much if the band was quite small. But the tall fellow interrupted.
I think Katherine Mansfield is trying to make a statement on the disparity between the wealthy elite and disposable working class. The rich are privileged enough to live lavishly and hold extravagant events, but the laborers and workers are what make it ultimately possible.
three figures
John Hercastle originally slaughtered three Indian devotees in first obtaining the Moonstone. Looking back, the Moonstone exacted its revenge through the three deaths of Rosanna, Lady Verinder, and Godfrey Ablewhite, all of whom were in possession or proximity to the Moonstone at one point. Finally, the diamond was returned by the descendants of the original three Indian devotees. Cool ending.
Robinson Crusoe
I've never read Robinson Crusoe, but Betteredge's love of the novel and its emphasis in this novel is making me want to go out and read it. I am sure it influenced Wilkie Collins individual thought as writing style to some extent.
I am the person (as you remember no doubt) who led the way in these pages, and opened the story. I am also the person who is left behind, as it were, to close the story up.
At first, I was a little annoyed with Betteredge's rambling style of narration, but his point of view on matters was the most interesting and unique to me. I find it very fitting that the role of narration returns to Betteredge in the final narrative.
In these facts lies the explanation of Mr. Godfrey’s honourable conduct, in paying the debts incurred for the lady and the villa–and (as you will presently see) of more besides.
Earlier in the novel, Franklin was suspected of having multiple financial debts, which linked him as a possible suspect to the disappearance of the Moonstone. On the other hand, Godfrey Ablewhite was portrayed as an honorable man who was charitable and wealthy. Now, Godfrey's debts and wrongdoings are revealed and we can finally see that it was truly the other way around.
On forcing the door of the room, the deceased gentleman was discovered, dead, with the pillow of the bed over his face.
I wonder why the murderers didn't move the pillow or the small wooden box to remove physical evidence linking the scene to murder, whereas it could be otherwise implied that Godfrey died from unknown, natural reasons. This shows that the Indians are not experienced criminals, but I would expect murderers to make some attempts to prevent themselves from being suspected or caught by authorities.
Murder
Was he murdered by the Indians? It seems like the most likely explanation. Yet again, tragedy and death follow the cursed Moonstone.
It’s only in books that the officers of the detective force are superior to the weakness of making a mistake.”
I believe this quote highlights how characters in The Moonstone depict a significant departure from the idealistic portrayal of heroes and heroines in traditional Victorian novels. Collins does a good job of redefining these expectations of 19th century novels.
or the last two days I have had a watch set for Mr. Luker at the bank; and I shall cause that watch to be continued until the last day of the month. I know that he must take the Diamond himself out of his bankers’ hands–and I am acting on the chance that the person who has pledged the Diamond may force him to do this by redeeming the pledge. In that case I may be able to lay my hand on the person. If I succeed, I clear up the mystery, exactly at the point where the mystery baffles us now!
This seems to foreshadow a possible confrontation with the three Indians, whose whereabouts we have not heard about in these last few chapters. They must have a similar plan for the last day of the month as well.
“He has not read Robinson Crusoe since he was a child,” said Betteredge, speaking to himself–not to me. “Let’s try how Robinson Crusoe strikes him now!” He unlocked a cupboard in a corner, and produced a dirty and dog’s-eared book, which exhaled a strong odour of stale tobacco as he turned over the leaves.
There appears to be a strong cooccurrence between Robinson Crusoe and tobacco throughout the course of the novel. Perhaps one can say that Betteredge has an "addiction" for the two, similar to Ezra Jennings.
He was himself satisfied that the Moonstone had been pledged to Mr. Luker.
I still don't understand why the Moonstone cannot be retrieved from Mr. Luker given that the possession of the stone belongs to Rachel and it was unlawfully exchanged.
brandy
Drugs and alcohol are undoubtedly a prevalent motif in the novel, but the occurrences of alcohol are harder to analyze computationally given the variety of terms that all fall under the umbrella category of alcohol. Some of the terms used in reference to alcohol include "gin", "liquor", "whisky", and now "brandy". It could be interesting to try to map out all of these occurrences.
The one effectual palliative in my case, is–opium. To that all-potent and all-merciful drug I am indebted for a respite of many years from my sentence of death. But even the virtues of opium have their limit. The progress of the disease has gradually forced me from the use of opium to the abuse of it. I am feeling the penalty at last. My nervous system is shattered; my nights are nights of horror. The end is not far off now.
Given, that Wiklie Collins himself was an opium addict, I believe parts of the author's experience with the drug is reflected here in the character of Ezra Jennings. He continues to portray Ezra as an individual who is unjustly stigmatizes due to this opium use. In this way, Ezra and Franklin are similar as well.
I propose setting a watch at the bank, as the present month draws to an end, and discovering who the person is to whom Mr. Luker restores the Moonstone
This is the same plan as the three Indians. Looks like the end of the present month will be very eventful. I wonder if there will be a confrontation between the two groups. Very exciting!
In your nightgown
This nightgown appears to be a critical clue in the course of this mystery. I wonder what exactly its significance will be.
I had discovered Myself as the Thief
How is it possible that Franklin stole the diamond, without having any memory of it whatsoever. I find this hard to believe given that he is the character most keen on solving the mystery in the first place. There is the possibility that perhaps he is being framed by Rosanna.
“I complain of a new disease, Mr. Franklin, of my own inventing. I don’t want to alarm you, but you’re certain to catch it before the morning is out.” “The devil I am!” “Do you feel an uncomfortable heat at the pit of your stomach, sir? and a nasty thumping at the top of your head? Ah! not yet? It will lay hold of you at Cobb’s Hole, Mr. Franklin. I call it the detective-fever; and I first caught it in the company of Sergeant Cuff.” “Aye! aye! and the cure in this instance is to open Rosanna Spearman’s letter, I suppose? Come along, and let’s get it.”
I am beginning to appreciate Betteredge's humorous personality more and more throughout the course of the novel, even noticeable in the narration of other characters.
The great Cuff has retired from business. He has got a little cottage at Dorking; and he’s up to his eyes in the growing of roses. I have it in his own handwriting, Mr. Franklin. He has grown the white moss rose, without budding it on the dog-rose first.
I find it very fitting that Mr. Cuff's ideal retirement would be in gardening and growing roses, while humming the tune to "The Last Rose of Summer", no less.
I was obliged to wait a moment before I could trust myself to speak to him
This description of the friendship between Franklin and Betteredge is something that I was not aware of through Betteredge's narration. Through Betteredge surely also respects Franklin's character, it appears that this admiration and friendship is not entirely mutual. It is interesting to see Franklin's perspective on this through his narration.
Not a doubt of it, Mr. Murthwaite! I am waiting, however, with some anxiety, to hear the rational explanation of the difficulty which I have just had the honour of submitting to you
So far, Mr. Murthwaite appears to be the most capable individual to get to the bottom of this mystery. His rational insight and observant nature, combined with his Indian background, indicates that he will be more important in the course of this novel than I previously thought.
you would have been entitled to pay the money back (if you liked) in one year’s time from the date at which it was first advanced to you.
This interaction is very odd to me. I wonder how this information could be useful to the Indian. Perhaps he already received another loan, and was wondering how long he needs to pay it back.
revealed Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite’s motive
As opposed to Miss Clack's subjective narration that depicted Godfrey as a well-mannered, charitable man, Mr. Bruff's narration introduces a more objective viewpoint that reveals Godfrey as an untrustworthy and deceiving man.
No one
This highlights that Rosanna and Rachel had more in common than I previously though. Not only did they share a love interest in Franklin, but they both were outsiders who experienced loneliness in a similar way.
I seized the one particular tract on profane swearing, entitled, “Hush, for Heaven’s Sake!”; I handed it to him with an expression of agonised entreaty. He tore it in two, and threw it back at me across the table.
Throughout this narrative, Wilkie Collins' portrayal of Miss Clack is comical, almost like a caricature. I wonder if these anti-religious sentiments were common at the time of this novel's publication in England.
I found Rachel on her knees by the sofa, with her mother’s head on her bosom. One look at my aunt’s face (knowing what I knew) was enough to warn me of the dreadful truth.
Lady Verinder's death continues to emphasize the narratives of tragedy and ill fortune surrounding the diamond. This marks the second death within the Verinder household in the short time since the introduction of the diamond.
handsome income
What is the handsome income he is talking about? Is it a reference to the diamond? If so, was that some motivation behind Godfrey's engagement with Rachel?
Oh, how differently I should have acted in her place!
To me, this line indicates that jealousy is a clear component of Miss Clack dislike of Rachel. Most likely this is due to her wealth, multitude of love interests, and reputation.
I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves. And I greatly feared that my poor aunt might be one of the number.
It is interesting that Miss Clack notes this idea of spiritual illness instead of the real, physical illness that Lady Verinder is facing. This highlights how Miss Clack's judgements of other people are rooted entirely in religious and spiritual thought, with less consideration to logic or facts.
She is keeping a sinful secret from you and from everybody. May there not be something in these recent events which threatens her secret with discovery?
Given that Miss Clack and Rachel are acquainted but not entirely familiar with each other, I wonder how Miss Clack comes to this conclusion that Rachel is keeping an important secret from her family. Certainly it is foreshadowing but it also reveals Miss Clack's sharpness and intuition.
Mr. Godfrey
Given that this narration stems from Miss Clack's diary, I wonder why this section consists entirely of a second-hand account of Mr. Godfrey's day instead of her own.
I really cannot call her my cousin!
It's interesting that Miss Clack refuses to call Rachel her cousin. This animosity perhaps foreshadows wrongdoing committed by Rachel in the rest of the story, causing Miss Clack's general dislike of her.
When you next see the Shivering Sand, try to forgive me once more
When we first were introduced to the Shivering Sand with the interaction of Rosanna and Betteredge, it was indicated that Rosanna was fearful about this ominous location. Now we can see that it was clearly foreshadowing, but I wonder how Rosanna could have anticipated the events surrounding the diamond, unless she had been planning it from the very start. With her tragic death, this may remain a mystery for now...
the mystery is–what the devil has she hidden in the tin case?
The introduction of the tin case marks a shift in the novel from subjective behavioral analysis to objective facts and objects. The discovery of the tin case's contents, after all, would be a definitive conclusion, while every clue up to this point has been subjective and interpretative.
Can’t you, Mr. Betteredge
With the knowledge provided by Mr. Betteredge that Rosanna is in love with Franklin, I wonder if Franklin is the primary suspect for this crime in Cuff's view. However, I wonder why Betteredge is oblivious to this and unable to come to a similar conclusion.
Sergeant Cuff and I set forth for the Shivering Sand.
The introduction of Sergeant Cuff in this section of the first period is interesting because it highlights the inability of local police when compared to private, more intelligent detectives. This commentary is relevant even today.
In a rage, one moment; in tears, the next! What did it mean?
This quote continues to highlight Betteredge's confusion with women. His struggles to understand some of the different women in the story perhaps is the author's way of reflecting the significant gender gap between men and women in colonial society.
investigation was hopeless, before the investigation had begun
I find this indicative of the fact that Superintendent Seegrave is not serious about solving the case as Betteredge or other characters are. I wonder to what extent he will go in his investigation, and how he might bring a subjective or objective interpretation into the case.
let us remain cousins still
The 19th century equivalent of "lets be friends".
Was the legacy of the Moonstone a proof that she had treated her brother with cruel injustice? or was it a proof that he was worse than the worst she had ever thought of him?
These two questions appear to be the central thoughts for the reader to consider for the course of the novel as a whole. Not only does it tie into the initial prologue description of the diamond as a cursed object, but it foreshadows challenges and complexities looming in the novel.
I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament–namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year. Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before. When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year. An easy people to govern, in the Parliament and in the Kitchen–that’s the moral of it.
I blew air out of my nose when reading this. Building upon the comparison of Betteredge to the Queen, I would continue to analogously describe Lady Verinder as the Prime Minister. The Queen must be neutral in all political matters and can't vote, but she does have a ceremonial role in the UK government. Similarly, Betteredge is also expected to be neutral to some extent, and he is expected to provide an audience to Lady Verinder whenever necessary.
On the twentieth
I found it interesting how quickly time passed throughout the course of this chapter specifically when compared to other chapters of this text. Whereas in other chapters, Betteredge's narration was somewhat roundabout and cursory, in this chapter it seems he provides more direct summaries of important events rather than the introductory narration we were accustomed to.
the rock ahead of their own idleness
I find the juxtaposition here between the rock and the diamond very interesting. The rock of idleness is something that is considered awkward and negative. On the contrary, the developments in the novel relating to the diamond have been directly opposite to idleness: extreme activity, changes, and patterns of possession and repossession.
moon was at the full in the heavens
In literature, the presence of the full moon is associated with greater activity, opportunity, and development. The full moon is also closely associated with feminine energy. I don't believe this detail is coincidental given the developments with Franklin in relation with Penelope and Rosanna in this chapter.
An Objective side, and a Subjective side. Which are we to take?
It's interesting that Franklin says this because his own interpretation of objectivity is biased and subjective in itself. I believe this line foreshadows that the distinction between objectivity and subjectivity will increasingly blur as the story continues.
On my lady’s last birthday she gave me a seventh
I find it odd that Betteredge's wife gifted him a copy of Robinson Crusoe given that it was actually her birthday. It's almost as Betteredge's wife felt that replacing the novel for her husband was really a gift and relief for herself as well.
the loss of the Indian Diamond
The fact that the Moonstone was stolen again is quite fitting given that the history of the Moonstone is characterized by the same patterns of possession and repossession. This connects to the Hindu idea of karma which was foreshadowed in the Prologue: what goes around, comes around.
Hindoo
It is interesting to note here that that the archaic spelling of this word is used instead of the proper "Hindu". This highlights some basic dissimilarities between indigenous culture and colonialist understandings and interpretations.
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