The Mandelbaum Gate by Muriel Spark
(pages 159 - 160)
Crossing Over
In my passage of The Mandelbaum Gate by Muriel Spark, the contrast of light and dark
and vivid imagery illuminate Barbara’s own transformation and realization. In
the passage Barbara is escaping from the convent with Freddy but time is slowed
down so the readers are able to see the symbolism behind Barbara’s rebellious
act.
The use of detail and vivid imagery
in the first paragraph creates a dramatic slowing of time, allowing suspense.
We hear the “noise of running water and padding footsteps” and see the “dusky
amber windowlight” (Spark 159). Every sound or absence of sound when “nothing
stirred” (Spark 159) is observed showing Barbara’s concentration on her
surrounds and yearning for some sort of excitement in the few casual and
unsuspecting noises. The description sets the suspenseful tone and illustrates Barbara’s
supposed paranoia. But in her lingering readers see her true desire to, not
escape, but be recognized for her daring nature.
To illustrate this surfacing realization
of Barbara’s, there is a consistent theme of light and dark throughout the
passage symbolizing a crossing over. At a point, Barbara is stuck “between the
half-light and the pure dark” (Spark 159), showing both her inability to turn
back or away from this rebellious nature, and a loss of hope of being caught
and recognized as something more than “an English Catholic convert” (Spark
160). This description reflects the simplistic way that she is seen by the
ladies at the convent, a description that Barbara, eventually, realizes doesn’t
fit her entire being. The surface level and short description aimed at
encompassing her character entirely is an unfair representation as Barbara as a
whole, classified in just three words. The “light” description contrasted with
her “dark” actions shows there is much more to Barbara than what meets the eye,
a concept she struggles with.
Barbara seems upset by the lack of
excitement and impact her act has made, feeling “something unaccomplished in
the silence” (Spark 159) knowing that her image will remain as crystal and pure
as ever. This silence, both spoken of here and felt in the darkness, symbolizes
the fact that nothing has changed. The silence represents a stillness that
means no impact has been made, no sense of “triumph and justification” that
Barbara had been hoping for (Spark 160).
Barbara’s intent in escaping so
scandalously was to make a point to the ladies in the convent, shown by her
constant concentration on her surroundings. But in Barbara’s noncritical
description of the ladies at the convent we can tell that she isn’t upset with
the ladies but rather society as a whole in their classification of her. The
ladies simply “inquired politely,” giving off an innocent tone rather than a
harsh judgment (Spark 160). Through Barbara’s physical journey we see her
transform into the multidimensional person that was forever hidden inside. In
her crossing over from light to dark and back to light beyond the convent
walls, she recognizes her distaste with society’s ways and her true reason for
escaping.
I agree with your take on the little details demonstrating Barbara's paranoia. With that, I think there are a couple other parts of importance for the contrasted light and dark. Since I haven't read the book, I don't know the exact context, but the dark hallways could display some type of grim past, or running away to a dark future. So I think that Sparks used contrasting elements of darkness and light for other aspects, such as foreshadowing, as well.
ReplyDeleteMy novel was about self-discovery as well. I am not sure if that was the main theme to your book, but if it was I think that your description and analysis of the light and dark was perfect. In my novel there was also light and dark, but it was never as blatant as, "between the half-light and the pure dark” (Spark 159). As I was reading I was wondering whether she wanted to be caught and taken back inside or if she just wanted to be chased. To me, she could have just wanted some excitement on her way out of the convent. I thought that she did want to leave, of course I haven't read the book though so it is just an idea.
ReplyDeleteMy novel was about self-discovery as well. I am not sure if that was the main theme to your book, but if it was, I think that your description and analysis of the light and dark was perfect. In my novel there was also light and dark, but it was never as blatant as, "between the half-light and the pure dark” (Spark 159). We studied the idea of light versus dark majorly in "The Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, and the theme has only stuck out to me more and more as a result. As I was reading the passage I was wondering whether the main character wanted to be caught and taken back inside or if she just wanted to be chased. To me, she could have just wanted some excitement on her way out of the convent. I thought that she did want to leave. That she wanted her journey to be as exciting as it could be. Also, that she could make her own life exciting. I was thinking that the reason she was trying to escape in the first place was to make her own self-discovery even more impactful on her life. Not only is she finally making herself happy but she is also doing it in a way that she, so to say, "goes out with a bang."
ReplyDeleteIn your analysis of the passage from The Mandelbaum Gate, it is made clear that the vivid imagery and the detailed descriptions are meant to slow time and build suspense. An addendum could be made to that statement, however, in order to strengthen the argument in regards to the symbolism this passage holds. First, the slowed pace created by the overwhelming amount of imagery also places emphasis on this passage. The author’s use of such great detail forces a thorough understanding of the situation. The reason for creating this emphasis is to stress the importance of rebellion—no matter how small an act of rebellion it is. By portraying this act of rebellion through such minute details, the importance of rebellion is emphasized.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, it is in the minuteness of the details themselves that additional meaning can be gleamed. The details are so small, yet have an incredible impact on the overall effect of the passage. Similarly, the character’s act of rebellion is so small—as it goes unnoticed and “nothing stirred” in the “unaccomplished silence” (Spark 159)—yet it is a rebellion all the same and built the character’s confidence as a result. Her tiny rebellion led her to believe that “there was a lot more than met the eye” (Spark 159), just as the immense detail of the passage, though seemingly insignificant, resulted in a clear symbolism of the character’s rebellion.