Ezra Jennings and Rosanna Spearman, Alike
In Collins’ classic novel ‘The Moonstone’ a brief light is shed upon the lives of two characters’ that face everlasting rejection and loneliness. Rosanna Spearman is an emotionally driven character, who by a sad turn of events growing up, was driven out of her previous life of love and comfort. At an unfortunate attempt to further survive her dismay, Rosanna finds herself guilty upon the sin of theft. Plagued in her societies mind for eternity Rosanna found her life full of regret. She endlessly longed to find a companion who would bring her the happiness she so desired. Rosanna believed she just might have found her opportunity when the fine Lady Verinder gave her a second chance! However she found herself torn between her hope for joy and the views of her society that found her to be undeserved. In her darkest hour Rosanna took her own life, thereby succumbing to the deepest depths of loneliness imaginable to the human creature. In her own words Rosanna confesses: “ Those thoughts came back to me now. I wondered in myself which it would be harder to do, if things went on in this manner- to bear Mr. Franklin Blake’s indifference to me, or to jump into the quicksand and end it for ever in that way?” (Collins, 323)
During the novel Collins creates another character that portrays the harsh reality of loneliness and self-loathing, his name comes in the form of Ezra Jennings. Through this character Collins sheds light on important racial issues apparent in the Victorian society. Like Rosanna, Ezra too finds himself rudely rejected by the people who encounter him throughout his experience. Collins describes Ezra using the term: “gipsy darkness” when referring to his complexion: “His nose presented the fine shape and modeling so often found among the ancient people of the East, so seldom visible among the newer races of the west.” (Collins, 319) Even during a time when Ezra is unselfishly helping his former neighbor, there is a sense of suspicion that constantly surrounds his person, challenging even the reader to evaluate his motives. “From this strange face, eyes…took your attention captive at their will…His soft brown eyes looked back at me gently; and he met my involuntary rudeness ” (Collins, 319) Despite the hardships these characters have faced during their previous experiences, they both hold an earnest sense of character and try to treat others as they only wish to be treated. When referring to Rosanna, Collins wrote: “She had lived a miserable life, Mr. Betteredge- vile people had ill-treated her and led her wrong- and it hadn’t spoiled her sweet temper. She was an angel.” (Collins, 184) Rosanna experienced what she felt to be love for the character Franklin Blake. Despite her deep sorrow Rosanna experienced a moment of bliss that came over her entire body. “Her complexion turned of a beautiful red, which I had never seen in it before; she brightened all over with a kind of speechless and breathless surprise.” (Collins, 26) Rosanna in an instant saw a glimmer of hope in her world of dreary with the surprising presence of none other but the character Mr. Franklin Blake. When comparing these two characters it is interesting to reveal that Collins arranged for both of their souls to be deeply affected by the presence of Mr. Blake. “Is there really something in him which answers to the yearning I have for a little human sympathy- the yearning which has survived the solitude and persecution of many years…” (Collins, 393) Through Ezra’s character it is possible that Collins is challenging the reader to consider the continuum of the human spirit. Neither time nor ill experience has caused this yearning of Ezra’s soul to fade, possibly suggesting a sense of an eternal hope that we are not alone. However, in a different light it could also be this very idea that drove Rosanna to take her own life; for she could not bear the notion that loneliness was an inevitable part of the human condition.
Joanna Montis English 200CCollins, Wilkie. The Moonstone. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
In Collins’ classic novel ‘The Moonstone’ a brief light is shed upon the lives of two characters’ that face everlasting rejection and loneliness. Rosanna Spearman is an emotionally driven character, who by a sad turn of events growing up, was driven out of her previous life of love and comfort. At an unfortunate attempt to further survive her dismay, Rosanna finds herself guilty upon the sin of theft. Plagued in her societies mind for eternity Rosanna found her life full of regret. She endlessly longed to find a companion who would bring her the happiness she so desired. Rosanna believed she just might have found her opportunity when the fine Lady Verinder gave her a second chance! However she found herself torn between her hope for joy and the views of her society that found her to be undeserved. In her darkest hour Rosanna took her own life, thereby succumbing to the deepest depths of loneliness imaginable to the human creature. In her own words Rosanna confesses: “ Those thoughts came back to me now. I wondered in myself which it would be harder to do, if things went on in this manner- to bear Mr. Franklin Blake’s indifference to me, or to jump into the quicksand and end it for ever in that way?” (Collins, 323)
During the novel Collins creates another character that portrays the harsh reality of loneliness and self-loathing, his name comes in the form of Ezra Jennings. Through this character Collins sheds light on important racial issues apparent in the Victorian society. Like Rosanna, Ezra too finds himself rudely rejected by the people who encounter him throughout his experience. Collins describes Ezra using the term: “gipsy darkness” when referring to his complexion: “His nose presented the fine shape and modeling so often found among the ancient people of the East, so seldom visible among the newer races of the west.” (Collins, 319) Even during a time when Ezra is unselfishly helping his former neighbor, there is a sense of suspicion that constantly surrounds his person, challenging even the reader to evaluate his motives. “From this strange face, eyes…took your attention captive at their will…His soft brown eyes looked back at me gently; and he met my involuntary rudeness ” (Collins, 319) Despite the hardships these characters have faced during their previous experiences, they both hold an earnest sense of character and try to treat others as they only wish to be treated. When referring to Rosanna, Collins wrote: “She had lived a miserable life, Mr. Betteredge- vile people had ill-treated her and led her wrong- and it hadn’t spoiled her sweet temper. She was an angel.” (Collins, 184) Rosanna experienced what she felt to be love for the character Franklin Blake. Despite her deep sorrow Rosanna experienced a moment of bliss that came over her entire body. “Her complexion turned of a beautiful red, which I had never seen in it before; she brightened all over with a kind of speechless and breathless surprise.” (Collins, 26) Rosanna in an instant saw a glimmer of hope in her world of dreary with the surprising presence of none other but the character Mr. Franklin Blake. When comparing these two characters it is interesting to reveal that Collins arranged for both of their souls to be deeply affected by the presence of Mr. Blake. “Is there really something in him which answers to the yearning I have for a little human sympathy- the yearning which has survived the solitude and persecution of many years…” (Collins, 393) Through Ezra’s character it is possible that Collins is challenging the reader to consider the continuum of the human spirit. Neither time nor ill experience has caused this yearning of Ezra’s soul to fade, possibly suggesting a sense of an eternal hope that we are not alone. However, in a different light it could also be this very idea that drove Rosanna to take her own life; for she could not bear the notion that loneliness was an inevitable part of the human condition.
Joanna Montis English 200CCollins, Wilkie. The Moonstone. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
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