QCQ #8
Quotation: “In my sudden passage from one mood to another, I was filled with the desire to shake the life half out of him. But so soon as I moved a step in his direction, intending war instead of peace, he altered the position of his hand, holding it out towards me as if forbidding my approach. Directly he did so, quite involuntarily, I pulled up dead, – as if my progress had been stayed by bars of iron and walls of steel.” (144)
Comment: This depicts Sydney Atherton’s first encounter with the supernatural abilities that were said to be possessed by the followers of Isis. This and other events that follow shortly may be what causes Atherton to draw connections and believe what Paul Lessingham was discussing with him earlier on. Lessingham was asking him a lot of questions about the followers of Isis and their supernatural abilities such as hypnosis and transforming into a beetle. Atherton thought Lessingham was crazy and wanted to know why he wanted all the information he did, but Lessingham wouldn’t provide an explanation.
Between what Atherton witnessed and the story that he was told by his visitor, I think Atherton will begin to make connections between Lessingham’s desire for information and his strange behavior when he saw the picture of the beetle. If he does make the connection or some kind of connection it will be interesting to see if the tells Miss Lindon because he claims to love her and want what’s best for her. It is difficult to tell how this story line ties in completely with the story line at the beginning of the book besides the use of the beetle, the supernatural abilities, and the emphasis on Paul Lessingham.
Question: If Atherton does develop a connection between the story he was told about Lessingham and his reaction to the beetle will he warn Miss Lindon because he fears she may be in danger? Why does the original “villain” from the first part of the story want Lessingham’s letters with Miss Lindon so badly? Is he going to use them to target Miss Lindon to get revenge on Lessingham which is what he claims he wants?
One thought on “QCQ #8”
I do think that once Atherton makes the connection he will tell Ms. Lindon either because he cares about her and wants the best for her or simply because he is jealous and wants to be with her himself. He has stated that he wonders why Lindon is interested in Lessingham because he is such a plain guy and Atherton has always been there and is a much better option. I do think the “villian” from the beginning wants the letters for some kind of revenge or malicious deed. For what purpose and how I am unaware at this point in the book but maybe it will all come together in the end.