Mr. Candy

Dave Hudak
English 200C / F01
Dr. Lincoln Shlensky
October 30, 2006

Wilkie Collins’ novel entitled The Moonstone hosts one character of particular interest. His name is Mr. Candy. Upon his role he challenges the system in ways that today would be considered immoral, but these immoral actions only help to buttress his inconspicuous power amongst Victorian society. The purpose of this paper is to confirm that Mr. Candy abuses his power and as a result Collins is gesturing that Mr. Candy acts as a symbol for Great Britain within the Victorian era.
Due to Mr. Candy’s medical profession, a doctor, he has the ability to wield power over others. The name Collins has chosen for the doctor is symbolic and mildly humorous because society never associates candy and medicine together. Nevertheless, Mr. Candy is portrayed to handout medicine as though it were some sort of treat. The reader, late in the novel is made aware of Mr. Candy’s malpractice because Ezra Jennings acts as an informant. “Mr. Candy deceived you” (381). This statement is told to Mr. Blake informing him that Mr. Candy slipped him some laudanum without his consent. If such a non-consentual act where to be conducted amongst the present day, Mr. Candy would be seen as abusing his medical position. Yet Collins’ writing seems to imply that doctors of the Victorian era quite openly abused their practice of medicine. Ezra Jennings who is Mr. Candy’s personal assistant even commented, “Every medical man commits that act of treachery” (381). He further proceeds to say, “Every doctor in large practice finds himself, every now and then, obliged to deceive his patients, as Mr. Candy deceived you” (381). Such a bold statement makes it quite apparent that doctors within the Victorian era were wielding an inconspicuous power. Nonetheless this claim is further supported as Mr. Candy did not receive any repercussive measures.
On the other hand, Mr. Candy contradicts himself with his practice. For Mr. Candy would not look highly upon lower authorities if they were to partake in a similar devious act. Ezra Jennings sheds light upon this matter when he discusses his own upcoming experiment. He tells the reader that “it is perhaps fortunate that [Mr. Candy] is to be away just at this time. He would have been mortified if I had not informed him of the experiment which I am going to try with Mr. Blake” (394). Why would he be mortified? One can concede that Ezra Jennings does not posses full doctoral recognition, but one should also remember that Ezra Jennings experiment is the exact same experiment performed previously by Mr. Candy. One already knows the probabilities and the outcomes. As a result there should be no forthcoming danger in Ezra Jennings experiment.
Amongst the larger perspective, it could be said that Collins portrayal of Mr. Candy is somewhat symbolic to Great Britain. The two both abuse their power. For instance, the Victorian era was a period of Great Britain’s worldwide dominance. Great Britain felt it had the ability to conduct itself in any such manner it desired. Even if these actions were not socially acceptable amongst the world view. Hence, the country’s imperialistic nature. Likewise, Mr. Candy felt that he too could act in any such manner that he desired. He could justify his actions because he saw himself as a trained professional, somebody who holds special authority to act upon specific matters. With his doctoral skills he did posses the knowledge to foresee his experiment’s outcome, but he nonetheless is guilty of abusing his vested power.