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Second Period: The Discovery of the Truth 1848-1849 (several narratives)

Week 4 - First Narrative Ch. 1-5
Miss Drusilla Clack, niece of the late John Verinder

Miss Clack has been asked to record her observations in London during the weeks following the disappearance of the Moonstone.

Miss Clack witnesses several things in these first 5 chapters including the creation of Lady Verider’s Will, Rachel’s acceptance of Godfrey’s marriage proposal, and the death of a key character.

Her narrative also reveals her opinion of most of the other characters, her hypocrisy, and her lack of boundaries. She is the epitome of the unreliable narrator� But are all her observations suspect?

Questions
1. What do you make of the attacks on Godfrey Ablewhite and Septimus Luker?
2. How has this section altered your perception of Rachel Verinder or any other character?
3. What do you make of the relationship between Rachel and Godfrey?
4. How is the death at the end of this section likely to alter circumstances?

One of the first things that emerged was Miss Clack’s dislike of Betteredge, his daughter and Rachel. Her description of events therefore had a different bias to to that of the trustworthy old retainer of the previous section. That doesn’t mean that her views/ideas had to be wrong but we can expect a different take on events than if Betteredge had been observing them.

The attacks on Ablewhite and Luker have a connection with Sergeant Cuff’s predictions. He believed that the diamond had been taken to London and the Indian ‘jugglers� were soon hot on its trail. We knew already that the original keepers of the diamond resorted to violence if necessary to get it back. Their knowledge about the whereabouts of the diamond so far has been fairly accurate so I think that both Ablewhite and Luker are somehow involved.

Rachel's outbursts in front of Godfrey when she discovered he had been attacked have revealed some important information.
� I know the hand that took the Moonstone. I know�" she laid a strong emphasis on the words; she stamped her foot in the rage that possessed her�"I KNOW THAT GODFREY ABLEWHITE IS INNOCENT. Take me to the magistrate, Godfrey! Take me to the magistrate, and I will swear it!"

Rachel was distraught because Ablewhite was being suspected. She was shielding someone else who she believed stole the Moonstone. Her refusal to disclose who it was put her in a compromising position. The ‘wretch� she continues to love must be Franklin and her words suggest that she believed that he stole the diamond or is at least some way involved.

Her acceptance of Ablewhite’s marriage proposal even though she loved someone else was a total capitulation and somewhat bizarre, showing how much she had ‘sacrificed� herself. It is as if she was giving herself to him to make up for the harm she had caused him. With Franklin on the continent there was no one to challenge what seemed to be a totally unsuitable marriage.

The death of Lady Verinder left Rachel alone and unprotected. It may mean that a marriage to Ablewhite is arranged quickly. As Rachel is not of age she will need a legal guardian to manage her affairs. The guardian would have to approve of her marriage to Ablewhite, given her age, so that may prevent it happening.

Very good points, Trev. I found the vastly different perspectives both interesting and entertaining.

Rachel seems more sympathetic to me in this section somehow. She seems so very desperate and trying so hard to do the right thing by her own high standards.

Also, I both dislike Drusilla’s eavesdropping and feel sorry for her. She seems to fairly worship Godfrey... I wonder about the difference in their ages. I always thought her of similar age to Franklin, Godfrey, and Rachel. But perhaps she is older.

With the death of Lady V, I am reminded of Laura Fairlie from The Woman in White... And the sisters in No Name. Collins seemed particularly sensitive to the ways in which women were at the mercy of the law and their lack of power under it. I must admit I have some concern for Rachel’s well-being.

Rachel's acceptance of Godfrey's proposal surprised me. I didn't think she ever thought of him in the light of a possible husband. In any case, I don't like Godfrey. I feel he is not what he pretends to be. Rachel is about to commit a mistake by marrying him, when in fact, she loves Franklin.

Good points, Trev. I also think the "wretch" to whom Rachel refers is Franklin, and that she thinks he is somehow connected with the theft of the moonstone. That in a way explains why Rachel accepted Godfrey's proposal.

Miss Clack´s description of the events has some humorous parts in it, especially when she distributes all her pamphlets in her aunt´s house or when she takes over the "martyrdom" of listening to Rachel and Godfrey.
The description of the events form different angles seems quite modern to me.

Interesting perspective, Michaela!
It has certainly become a popular trope in recent years to tell a story that skews events, either via unreliable narrator, disordered flashbacks, missing details due to trauma or substance abuse. It’s somehow odd to think of these as the great grandchildren of Wilkie Collins.

I've always found Miss Clack entertaining-in a ridiculous way.

I think Collins had a blast writing her. He certainly pulled out all the stops. :)

Miss Clack-- poor dreary, desperate Miss Clack and her hideous/hilarious pamphlets (Satan Under the Tea-Table!). I know that I wouldn't be able to stand being in her company for even five minutes in real life, but through the filter of the book she feels to me like a tragic character, under her ridiculous veneer. She was born into a wealthy family, and left in poverty. I really feel sorry for her-- I think she is doing the best she knows how, and I felt so sorry for her when she overhears Godfrey disparage the charity work that means so much to her.

In many ways, starting with the name-- Drusilla Clack-- she feels like more of a Dickens character than a Collins. After reading that the two men were friends, I have to wonder if Collins created Clack as a nod to Dickens.

She most reminds me of Aunt Charlotte from A Room with a View, although Charlotte was a gentler portrait. Impoverished gentility, unlikely to marry due to lack of dowry, dependent on wealthy relatives, thwarted by gender-prejudice.

Renee wrote: "She most reminds me of Aunt Charlotte from A Room with a View, although Charlotte was a gentler portrait. Impoverished gentility, unlikely to marry due to lack of dowry, dependent on we..."

I like this comparison. :)

Renee wrote: "She most reminds me of Aunt Charlotte from A Room with a View, although Charlotte was a gentler portrait. Impoverished gentility, unlikely to marry due to lack of dowry, dependent on we..."

That's a great comparison, Renee. It never struck me, but now when I think about it, Charlotte seemed to be of the same mold as Clack, only I felt sorry for Charlotte and could like her in the end. I cannot say the same for Ms. Clack. :)

Clack lacks Charlotte’s good intentions. She has a bitterness, which might be understandable, but which makes her unsympathetic to others, both fictional and real.

Clack is the most ridiculous holy roller I've ever encountered. Renee you are right, Collins must have had a ball fleshing her character out. Not only is she a holy roller, but also a spinster. She is so prideful and insufferable without the slightest bit of humility or self-awareness. She is completely ignorant of her obnoxious behavior.

I didn't love this section as I didn't care for Miss Clack, and I was really missing Betteridge's milder tone and more astute judgement. Miss Clack's judgements felt pernicious and biased to a point that I didn't put much store in what she says.

In this section, we see a different side of Rachel, one that is more verbose and emotional. The disappearance of the moonstone feels somewhat sidelined as well in Miss Clack's section. I'm sure Miss Clack was fun to write, and as other reviewers stated, she can sometimes be funny, but still I was happy when her narrative drew to a close! I'm not sure what to make of Rachel & Godfrey's relationship and proposed union - but it all feels very suspect.

The death of Lady Verinder hits Rachel hard. Of course - she's just lost her mother and main family member. But on top of that, 19th century society is not kind to unmarried women, particularly middle and upper class women. Without a male guardian or wealthy widow settlement, someone like Rachel is left unprotected. Middle class women of the time were not taught how nor given the means to "fend for themselves." It also means she has no one to help her negotiate engagements and marriage and choose the right spouse.