Shifting Power
Shifting Power
Nicole Clegg
Dr. Shlensky
English 200C
October 29, 2006
The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins, was written in 19th century England during a time of great unrest. While England was expanding its vast empire around the world, the structures of power within the country were also changing. Through the comparison of Gabriel Betteridge and Sergeant Cuff, the reader is able to view a temporary shift of England’s centralized power to widespread, communal power and back.
Gabriel Betteridge, an old servant, is presented in the novel as a loyal and trustworthy man. Having been a servant for over fifty years, Betteridge has witnessed the evolution of the Verinder household in which he serves, and more largely of England’s growth as an empire. Throughout the novel, Betteridge abides by the rules of the house no matter what the circumstance, reflecting his “obedience to the laws [of England]” (11) and loyalty to his country. Here, Betteridge becomes a symbol of a traditional Englishman and embodies historical England. The Verinder house is turned upside down with the theft of the Moonstone diamond (taken from Seringapatam, India by English forces) and with the intrusion of private detective, Sergeant Cuff. Betteridge tries to maintain the integrity of the house by believing in the innocence of the family even if they were under suspicion. Symbolically, this can be seen as Betteridge defending the integrity of England’s society as it comes under scrutiny for its imperialistic endeavors. Furthermore, it is his naivety towards Cuff’s accusations, which isolates Betteridge from the ‘norm’ of society and makes him eccentric. Instead of tainting his beliefs, manipulated by Cuff’s suspicions, Betteridge proclaims he is “constitutionally superior to reason,” (166) providing an antidote to paranoia. This also allows Betteridge to hold “on like death to [his] belief in Miss Rachel,” (151) one of Cuff’s prime suspects. Therefore, by contradicting the new English mindset of paranoia and of questioning truth, Betteridge is able to stay faithful to his beliefs, revealing his loyalty to England’s historical values and its existing power structure.
Like Betteridge, Sergeant Cuff, a private detective, is also recognized as an outsider with very eccentric characteristics. Even his outward appearance was noted as peculiar, looking like “a parson … or anything else … except what he really was.” (96) During his internal investigation, Cuff violated English social structures and rules by looking beyond the surface situation and class stereotypes, deeming everyone equally suspicious; further removing himself from the comforting ‘norm’ of society. As time went on, the people of Yorkshire grew tired of “Cuff’s roundabout ways” (116) and constant challenges to their realities. Thus, Cuff is fired from the investigation; juxtaposing England’s motives to rid itself of odd people in order for there to be less chances of resistance in society. Furthermore, the “resigning [of] all further claim of [Cuff’s] services,” (175) symbolizes the shift of England’s power from centralized to decentralized; leaving a burden of self-policing to the community to try and maintain structure and stability.
Finally, by the end of the novel, the community’s efforts of self-policing are successful. The mystery of who stole the diamond is solved, reaffirming truth and social structure to Yorkshire. Betteridge can be credited with being right in his beliefs the whole time, proving his loyalty to the Verinders and proving a true Englishman’s loyalty. As for Cuff, he was reinstated to help close the case, reflecting the reestablishment of England’s central power and social hierarchy. Therefore concluding that the break in monolithic truth was only temporary and necessary in order to reinforce structures of power that already exist.
Word Count: 584
Nicole Clegg
Dr. Shlensky
English 200C
October 29, 2006
The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins, was written in 19th century England during a time of great unrest. While England was expanding its vast empire around the world, the structures of power within the country were also changing. Through the comparison of Gabriel Betteridge and Sergeant Cuff, the reader is able to view a temporary shift of England’s centralized power to widespread, communal power and back.
Gabriel Betteridge, an old servant, is presented in the novel as a loyal and trustworthy man. Having been a servant for over fifty years, Betteridge has witnessed the evolution of the Verinder household in which he serves, and more largely of England’s growth as an empire. Throughout the novel, Betteridge abides by the rules of the house no matter what the circumstance, reflecting his “obedience to the laws [of England]” (11) and loyalty to his country. Here, Betteridge becomes a symbol of a traditional Englishman and embodies historical England. The Verinder house is turned upside down with the theft of the Moonstone diamond (taken from Seringapatam, India by English forces) and with the intrusion of private detective, Sergeant Cuff. Betteridge tries to maintain the integrity of the house by believing in the innocence of the family even if they were under suspicion. Symbolically, this can be seen as Betteridge defending the integrity of England’s society as it comes under scrutiny for its imperialistic endeavors. Furthermore, it is his naivety towards Cuff’s accusations, which isolates Betteridge from the ‘norm’ of society and makes him eccentric. Instead of tainting his beliefs, manipulated by Cuff’s suspicions, Betteridge proclaims he is “constitutionally superior to reason,” (166) providing an antidote to paranoia. This also allows Betteridge to hold “on like death to [his] belief in Miss Rachel,” (151) one of Cuff’s prime suspects. Therefore, by contradicting the new English mindset of paranoia and of questioning truth, Betteridge is able to stay faithful to his beliefs, revealing his loyalty to England’s historical values and its existing power structure.
Like Betteridge, Sergeant Cuff, a private detective, is also recognized as an outsider with very eccentric characteristics. Even his outward appearance was noted as peculiar, looking like “a parson … or anything else … except what he really was.” (96) During his internal investigation, Cuff violated English social structures and rules by looking beyond the surface situation and class stereotypes, deeming everyone equally suspicious; further removing himself from the comforting ‘norm’ of society. As time went on, the people of Yorkshire grew tired of “Cuff’s roundabout ways” (116) and constant challenges to their realities. Thus, Cuff is fired from the investigation; juxtaposing England’s motives to rid itself of odd people in order for there to be less chances of resistance in society. Furthermore, the “resigning [of] all further claim of [Cuff’s] services,” (175) symbolizes the shift of England’s power from centralized to decentralized; leaving a burden of self-policing to the community to try and maintain structure and stability.
Finally, by the end of the novel, the community’s efforts of self-policing are successful. The mystery of who stole the diamond is solved, reaffirming truth and social structure to Yorkshire. Betteridge can be credited with being right in his beliefs the whole time, proving his loyalty to the Verinders and proving a true Englishman’s loyalty. As for Cuff, he was reinstated to help close the case, reflecting the reestablishment of England’s central power and social hierarchy. Therefore concluding that the break in monolithic truth was only temporary and necessary in order to reinforce structures of power that already exist.
Word Count: 584
Works Cited
Collins, Wilkie. The Moonstone. Ed. John Sutherland. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
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