First Impressions: The Theme of Prejudgment within The Moonstone
Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone is a rather lengthy novel which was originally published as weekly installments. Its mystery, the disappearance of the valuable gem of which the novel is named after, is a long drawn out journey designed to mislead and excite the reader as it is slowly revealed. Many times during the story, the reader is purposefully lead to believe innocent people were involved in the theft of the diamond, and this serves as a reminder that looks can be deceiving. Yet this theme does not only appear within the plot of the story, but throughout the entire novel itself. A good example of this theme would be the introduction of Sergeant Cuff.
It is from the house-steward Betteridge’s point of view that the reader is first introduced to Cuff. He describes the Sergeant upon first seeing him as “a grizzled, elderly man, so miserably lean that he looked as if he had not got an ounce of flesh on his bones in any part of him.” (Collins 96) This description makes Cuff seem like a frail old man, about to break in two. It seems hardly fitting of a character who would later go so far as to sleep on three chairs pushed together in the hallway in order to try to shed some light on the mystery.
Within this very same passage, Betteredge makes a particular note of Cuff’s eyes, stating that they “had a very disconcerting trick… of looking as if they expected something more from you than you were aware of yourself.” (96) While Betteredge observes and judges the character of Cuff before even speaking to him, he makes this very interesting observation which informs the reader that perhaps Cuff already knows that looks can be deceiving. As opposed to Superintendent Seegrave, who believed one of the servants to have stolen the diamond, Cuff looks past appearances and social hierarchy and accuses Rachel of the theft.
Betteredge, having originally thought of the sergeant as “a less comforting officer to look at” than Seegrave “for a family in distress,” it is amazing how quick his opinion changes. (96) As the steward leads Cuff through the garden and notices the sergeant’s fondness of roses, he states that Cuff “was a nice sort of man to recover Miss Rachel’s Diamond, and to find the thief who stole it!” (97) Within less than two pages, Betteredge has judged Cuff to be a solemn old geezer and a lovely man.
In a novel that relies solely on narratives from specific characters, this theme that looks can be deceiving is particularly important, as all the reader has to judge these characters for themselves is the judgment of the personages telling the story. This passage here can only serve as a reminder to the reader of this always present theme of not being able to trust one’s judgment.
Cuff attempts to educate Betteredge of this fact during their first encounter, telling him that “the nature of a man’s tastes is, most times, as opposite as possible to the nature of a man’s business.” (97) This valuable information falls on deaf ears as no less than a paragraph later, after Cuff has noticed Lady Verinder approaching before both Betteredge and the gardener, the steward states that he “began to think [Cuff] rather a quicker man than he appeared to be at first sight.” (97)
Something about Cuff affects Lady Verinder, causing her to act strangely, as noted by Betteredge. He claims that she was “for the first time in all my experience of her, at a loss what to say at an interview with a stranger.” (97) Since this portion of the story is from Betteredge’s point of view, this is the only indication on how Lady Verinder feels upon first meeting Cuff. It is logical to assume, however, that she is going through a judgmental process not unlike what Betteredge had just described earlier.
It is amazing that within such a short, two page passage, Wilkie Collins can give such a plethora of examples as to how people are prone to prejudgments. It is not uncommon among meeting people to assume certain aspects of their character, yet by pointing this out, Collins is giving the reader an informative look at a distinct theme within the novel: first instincts are never to be trusted.
It is from the house-steward Betteridge’s point of view that the reader is first introduced to Cuff. He describes the Sergeant upon first seeing him as “a grizzled, elderly man, so miserably lean that he looked as if he had not got an ounce of flesh on his bones in any part of him.” (Collins 96) This description makes Cuff seem like a frail old man, about to break in two. It seems hardly fitting of a character who would later go so far as to sleep on three chairs pushed together in the hallway in order to try to shed some light on the mystery.
Within this very same passage, Betteredge makes a particular note of Cuff’s eyes, stating that they “had a very disconcerting trick… of looking as if they expected something more from you than you were aware of yourself.” (96) While Betteredge observes and judges the character of Cuff before even speaking to him, he makes this very interesting observation which informs the reader that perhaps Cuff already knows that looks can be deceiving. As opposed to Superintendent Seegrave, who believed one of the servants to have stolen the diamond, Cuff looks past appearances and social hierarchy and accuses Rachel of the theft.
Betteredge, having originally thought of the sergeant as “a less comforting officer to look at” than Seegrave “for a family in distress,” it is amazing how quick his opinion changes. (96) As the steward leads Cuff through the garden and notices the sergeant’s fondness of roses, he states that Cuff “was a nice sort of man to recover Miss Rachel’s Diamond, and to find the thief who stole it!” (97) Within less than two pages, Betteredge has judged Cuff to be a solemn old geezer and a lovely man.
In a novel that relies solely on narratives from specific characters, this theme that looks can be deceiving is particularly important, as all the reader has to judge these characters for themselves is the judgment of the personages telling the story. This passage here can only serve as a reminder to the reader of this always present theme of not being able to trust one’s judgment.
Cuff attempts to educate Betteredge of this fact during their first encounter, telling him that “the nature of a man’s tastes is, most times, as opposite as possible to the nature of a man’s business.” (97) This valuable information falls on deaf ears as no less than a paragraph later, after Cuff has noticed Lady Verinder approaching before both Betteredge and the gardener, the steward states that he “began to think [Cuff] rather a quicker man than he appeared to be at first sight.” (97)
Something about Cuff affects Lady Verinder, causing her to act strangely, as noted by Betteredge. He claims that she was “for the first time in all my experience of her, at a loss what to say at an interview with a stranger.” (97) Since this portion of the story is from Betteredge’s point of view, this is the only indication on how Lady Verinder feels upon first meeting Cuff. It is logical to assume, however, that she is going through a judgmental process not unlike what Betteredge had just described earlier.
It is amazing that within such a short, two page passage, Wilkie Collins can give such a plethora of examples as to how people are prone to prejudgments. It is not uncommon among meeting people to assume certain aspects of their character, yet by pointing this out, Collins is giving the reader an informative look at a distinct theme within the novel: first instincts are never to be trusted.
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