The Beast in the Jungle
-"the charm of it was that even before they had spoken they had practically arranged with each other to stay behind for talk"
"I met you years and years ago in Rome. I remember all about it." - first hint of her love for him
"You know you told me something that I've never forgotten and that again and again has made me think of you since" - why was she so intrigued by this? What does this say about life?
Again, James' dialogue is great
The build up to John's secret is intense
May is happy to be the only person John has told, yet her knowing this and sticking by him tears her down
"isn't that what you describe perhaps but the expectation....of falling in love?"
"Of course what's in store for me may be no more than that."
-"no more than that"? He doesn't hold love very highly
"The thing will appear natural"
"I'll watch with you" that's a really beautiful ending to the moment
It is so sad that May is the only one to know his secret, to understand him, and yet he doesn't let her get close to him
"he continued to attach his eyes to her" love that imagery
"don't know when you needn't" i think she's telling him to just live
The narrator mostly tells the story from Marcher's point of view, as in sections May is his "friend" and he hers, when there is no question that there is more to it than that
The fact that Marcher believes in fate is great, but he believes almost too much
It is as if May knowing Marcher's secret has made it even more of an obsession. It's all they talk about
It's interesting to hear James' outlook on love, for as far as we know he never had it
"like a crouching beast in the jungle" an honorable man would not take a lady on a hunt ha!
Marcher fears he might lose May--why? Love? or because of his obsession?
I love the scene when May knows what the beast is but is too ill to speak of it. It shows how niave Marcher is in not being able to see this, as he still thinks it's some tangible thing he will recognize immediately
Marcher thinks the beast is May's death--but it is rather that he hasn't let himself love her
"The escape would have been to love her; then he would have lived"
The Jolly Corner
-This is such an eloquent ghost story: "a sensation more complex than had ever before found itself consistent with sanity"
-It seems thoughtful: it's interesting to have a ghost story taking place in a childhood home where there would definitely be haunting memories
-Interesting contrast between "jolly corner" and the style of the story
-Very similar to the theme in The Beast in the Jungle: that of the unlived life
-The narration is awesome. Very suspenseful.
-I feel a lot of loneliness from Brydon. He is remembering his past life and wishing for something else
-Again I wonder if this is telling to James' life
-what is the significance of the two lost fingers?
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