A Light on the Other
A Light on the Other
“Well Mr. Franklin, his appearance is against him to begin with. And then there’s a story that Mr. Candy took him with a very doubtful character. Nobody knows who he is – and he hasn’t a friend in the place. How can you expect one to like him, after that?” (pg.320)
The Moonstone, written by Wilkie Collins explores the theme of the outsider. The concept of being outside of society is personified in Ezra Jennings, the man of “gypsy darkness” (pg. 319). The judgment above is expressed by one but held by many, and directly distinguishes this character as an outsider to society in particular because it refers to peoples subjugated by the English. The excerpt above is taken from the passage where Franklin Blake is first introduced to Ezra Jennings. This instance effectively shows the separation Ezra endures from the majority but also the rare moments of humanity he incurs from others.
The butler, Gabriel Betteredge takes on the voice of generally accepted public opinion, and one could go as far as to say the quintessential English view of strangers, when he describes the person of Ezra Jennings. Betteredge, as a character, is quite naïve and maintains that there are certain things about the workings of the world that must be accepted as fact or argued forcibly until they are. Wilkie Collins is demonstrating that an English sensibility could be said to function in the same way, operating from the surface of an issue and plowing forward regardless of circumstances. Gabriel describes Ezra Jennings with a strictly surface perspective, focusing on “his appearance”, and adding weight to the “story” concerning him by perpetuating the questionable vagueness of it. There is no desire to offer the benefit of the doubt to Ezra, he is simply different than the rest and, therefore, must be excluded and virtually ignored. Betteredge’s language and tone in regards to Ezra Jennings is less than civil, denoting a reluctant tolerance that the general population, “must put up with the man…” (pg. 320) It is also significant that being a professed Christian, Betteredge is quick to disregard and discredit the biblical reference of Ezra’s name with such strong language as, “as ugly a name as need be”. (pg.321) The biblical person, Ezra, led the remainder of the Israelites out of captivity back to the Promised Land. It could be said that Ezra Jennings led the other characters and reader alike out of confusion and onto the final stretch of evidences that would lead to the solving of the mystery. But, “Betteredge appeared to think that we had wasted enough of our time on an insignificant subject”. (pg.321)
Franklin Blake’s description of Ezra Jennings provides a slightly different perspective, one that continues to maintain its distance in the face of a foreigner, but one that acknowledges a higher sensibility to be found in the man. Blake’s description is spoken in a more respectful tone. He makes the distinction that Ezra is noticeably different with his “gypsy darkness”. (pg.319) But also that, “his nose presented the fine shape and modeling so often found among the ancient people of the east.” (pg.319) In that addition, Blake is making a point of demonstrating the agreeable qualities found in Ezra Jennings. While others look solely at his image, Blake notices Ezra’s, “eyes, stranger still, of the softest brown…took your attention captive at their will”. (pg.319) Blake makes a contrast between the sharpness of Ezra’s face to the softness of his eyes. A distinction not made by any other character because they failed to look at Ezra, choosing instead to look past him. Because Blake chose to search the eyes, he found that superiority and recess of good breeding that Ezra possessed, regardless of his outward appearance. The bond formed between the two men was mutually beneficial. On one hand, creating the partnership that helped to discover a missing link in the trail of the diamond. And on the other hand, allowing Ezra Jennings the luxury of friendship.
As an introduction to the person of Ezra Jennings this scene provides two contrasting perspectives that build upon the theme of the outsider. The first standpoint from the perspective of average Victoria English society is taken by Gabriel Betteredge. Franklin Blake, though he recognizes the “other” qualities of Ezra, moves beyond them in effect pulling Ezra into a place of inclusion in society for the briefest of moments while the remainder of the mystery is solved.
Emily Montgomery
Works Cited
Collins, Wilkie. The Moonstone. Ed. Steve Farmer. Ontario, 1999.
“Well Mr. Franklin, his appearance is against him to begin with. And then there’s a story that Mr. Candy took him with a very doubtful character. Nobody knows who he is – and he hasn’t a friend in the place. How can you expect one to like him, after that?” (pg.320)
The Moonstone, written by Wilkie Collins explores the theme of the outsider. The concept of being outside of society is personified in Ezra Jennings, the man of “gypsy darkness” (pg. 319). The judgment above is expressed by one but held by many, and directly distinguishes this character as an outsider to society in particular because it refers to peoples subjugated by the English. The excerpt above is taken from the passage where Franklin Blake is first introduced to Ezra Jennings. This instance effectively shows the separation Ezra endures from the majority but also the rare moments of humanity he incurs from others.
The butler, Gabriel Betteredge takes on the voice of generally accepted public opinion, and one could go as far as to say the quintessential English view of strangers, when he describes the person of Ezra Jennings. Betteredge, as a character, is quite naïve and maintains that there are certain things about the workings of the world that must be accepted as fact or argued forcibly until they are. Wilkie Collins is demonstrating that an English sensibility could be said to function in the same way, operating from the surface of an issue and plowing forward regardless of circumstances. Gabriel describes Ezra Jennings with a strictly surface perspective, focusing on “his appearance”, and adding weight to the “story” concerning him by perpetuating the questionable vagueness of it. There is no desire to offer the benefit of the doubt to Ezra, he is simply different than the rest and, therefore, must be excluded and virtually ignored. Betteredge’s language and tone in regards to Ezra Jennings is less than civil, denoting a reluctant tolerance that the general population, “must put up with the man…” (pg. 320) It is also significant that being a professed Christian, Betteredge is quick to disregard and discredit the biblical reference of Ezra’s name with such strong language as, “as ugly a name as need be”. (pg.321) The biblical person, Ezra, led the remainder of the Israelites out of captivity back to the Promised Land. It could be said that Ezra Jennings led the other characters and reader alike out of confusion and onto the final stretch of evidences that would lead to the solving of the mystery. But, “Betteredge appeared to think that we had wasted enough of our time on an insignificant subject”. (pg.321)
Franklin Blake’s description of Ezra Jennings provides a slightly different perspective, one that continues to maintain its distance in the face of a foreigner, but one that acknowledges a higher sensibility to be found in the man. Blake’s description is spoken in a more respectful tone. He makes the distinction that Ezra is noticeably different with his “gypsy darkness”. (pg.319) But also that, “his nose presented the fine shape and modeling so often found among the ancient people of the east.” (pg.319) In that addition, Blake is making a point of demonstrating the agreeable qualities found in Ezra Jennings. While others look solely at his image, Blake notices Ezra’s, “eyes, stranger still, of the softest brown…took your attention captive at their will”. (pg.319) Blake makes a contrast between the sharpness of Ezra’s face to the softness of his eyes. A distinction not made by any other character because they failed to look at Ezra, choosing instead to look past him. Because Blake chose to search the eyes, he found that superiority and recess of good breeding that Ezra possessed, regardless of his outward appearance. The bond formed between the two men was mutually beneficial. On one hand, creating the partnership that helped to discover a missing link in the trail of the diamond. And on the other hand, allowing Ezra Jennings the luxury of friendship.
As an introduction to the person of Ezra Jennings this scene provides two contrasting perspectives that build upon the theme of the outsider. The first standpoint from the perspective of average Victoria English society is taken by Gabriel Betteredge. Franklin Blake, though he recognizes the “other” qualities of Ezra, moves beyond them in effect pulling Ezra into a place of inclusion in society for the briefest of moments while the remainder of the mystery is solved.
Emily Montgomery
Works Cited
Collins, Wilkie. The Moonstone. Ed. Steve Farmer. Ontario, 1999.
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