Clemens Novel Analysis Essay, Research Paper

I. Plot

1. Setting:

Midway of the Ponte Vecchio at Florence, where three arches break the line of the little jewelers booths flittering on either hand, and open an approach to the parapet, Colville lounged against the corner of a shop and stared out upon the river. It was the late afternoon of a day in January, which had begun bright and warm, but had suffered a change of mood as its hours passed, and now from a sky dimmed with flying gray clouds was threatening rain. There must already have been rain in the mountains, for the yellow torrent that seethed and swirled around the piers of the bridge was swelling momently on the wall of the Lung Arno, and rolling a threatening flood toward the Cascine, where it lost itself under the ranks of the poplars that seemed to file across its course, and let their delicate tops melt into the pallor of the low horizon. The city, with the sweep of the Lung Arno on either hand, and its domes and towers hung in the dull air, and the country with its white villas and black cypresses breaking the gray stretches of the olive orchards on its hill-sides, had alike been growing more and more insufferable; and Colville was finding a sort of vindictive satisfaction in the power to ignore the surrounding frippery of landscape and architecture. (Page 593)

2. Crisis:

While Mr. Colville is shopping in Florence he hears a voice Mr. Colville! The gentle surprise conveyed in the exclamation, without time for recognition, convinced Colville, upon a cool review of time for recognition, convinced Colville, upon a cool review of the facts, that the lady had known him before their yes met. Why, Mrs. Bowen! he said. She put out her round, slender arm, and gave him a frank clasp of her gloved hand. The author goes on to describe more of the description of the two characters and then Mrs. Bowen says I should have known you anywhere . Mrs. Bowen goes on to say You knew Mr. Bowen was no longer living? she said, with fit obsequy of tone. Yes I knew, he answered, with decent sympathy. (Page 600-601)

3. Rising Action:

Episode 1:

After the first meeting of Mr. Colville and Mrs. Bowen, Mrs. Bowen says this is my little Effie, said Mrs. Bowen, after a moment; and now the child, hitherto keeping herself discreetly in the background, cam forward and promptly game her hand to Colville, who perceived that she was not so small as he had thought her at first; and effect of infancy had possibly been thought her at first; an effect or infancy had possibly been thought at first; an effect of infancy had possibly been studied in the brevity of her skirts and the immaturity of her corsage, but both were in good taste, and really to the advantage of her young figure. There was reason and justice in her being dressed as she was, for she was really not so old as she looked by two or three years; and there was reason in Mrs. Bowen s carrying in the hollow of her left arm the Indian Shawl sacque she had taken off and hung there; the deep cherry silk lining gave life to the somber tints prevailing in her dress, which its removal left free to express all the grace of her extremely lady-like person.

Episode 2:

The author goes into description of Mrs. Bowen s real name and of the way she use to be when they were friends twenty years ago. The narrator says:

Twenty years earlier, when Mrs. Bowen was Miss Lina Ridgely, she used to be the friend and confidante of the girl who jilted Colville. They were then both so young that they could scarcely have been a year out of school before they left home for the year they were spending in Eurpoe; but to the young man s inexperience they seemed the wisest and maturest of society women. His heart quaked in his breast when he saw them talking and laughing together, for fear they should be talking and laughing about him; he was even a little more afraid of Miss Ridgely than of her friend, who was dashing and effective, where Miss Ridgely was serene and elegant, according to his feeling at that time. (608).

When Mr. Colville wants to describe the true affection he has towards Mrs. Bowen he refers to her as Lina and briefly does that many times through out the novel.

Episode 3:

The next episodes take place with the introduction of a few new characters. The first is the introduction of Miss Graham who is the antagonist of the novel. Miss Graham and Mr. Colville go through a series of episodes that begin to show the attraction that Mrs. Bowen has for Mr. Colville. On Page 616 Mr. Colville is anxious to meet Mrs. Graham and but Mrs. Bowen takes control of the situation and decides when he will be allowed to meet her. She first introduces him to Rev. Mr. Waters, she then says for your time s come at last, and I m going to present you to Miss Graham. Colville replies I don t know, of course, as there is a Miss Graham, I can t help being presented to her, but I had almost worked myself up to the point of wishing there were non. I believe I m afraid. After their first meeting there seemed to be an attraction between the two characters. There were several instances where the two found themselves engaged with one another.

Episode 4:

One evening there was a ball at Madame Uccelli s house. This was a formal event, Mrs. Bowen, Miss Graham, and Mr. Colville all attended the event. Madame Uccelli s party was another instance where the reader begins to see again the attraction these women are having towards Mr. Colville. For perhaps the first time Mr. Colville s attraction and feelings are beginning to show.

Colville went and looked at Miss Graham, she was very beautiful, and she obeyed the music as if it were her breath; her face was rapt, intense, full of an unsmiling delight, which shone in her dark eyes, flowing like low stars. Her abandon interested Colville, and then awed him; the spectacle of that young, unjaded capacity for pleasure touched him with a profound sense of loss. Suddenly Imogene (Mrs. Bowen) caught sight of him, and with the coming of a second look in her eyes the light of an exquisite smile flashed over her face. His heart was in his throat.

In the supper-room she devoured salad and ices with a childish joy in them. The palce was jammed, and she laughed from her corner at Colville s struggles in getting the things for her and bringing them to her. While she was still in the midst of an ice, the faint note of the piano sounded Oh, they re beginning again! It s the Lancers! she said, giving him the plate back. She took his arm again; she almost pulled him along on their return. Why don t you dance? she demanded, mockingly. He replied by saying I would if you d let me dance with you .