Paul Goss
English 350
Dr. Wiley
11.23.08
Abstract: The Marginal Path to Meaning in Life
Mrs. Dalloway and The Long Goodbye both use the theme of the contradiction of margin and center, in society and the novel, to examine what path leads to meaning in life. In Mrs. Dalloway, Peter Walsh and Septimus Smith are both marginal characters, in society and the book, eluding judgment from mainstream society, and allowing them to follow their own path through the world. Mrs. Dalloway, in her contrasting position in the center, is a part of the elite of society and therefore subject to its judgments. In The Long Goodbye, Phillip Marlowe meets many people who are elite in society and central to the novel, but live on the periphery, hoping a geographical escape will translate into a social escape. Marlowe considers himself to live in L.A., in the geographic center, but in fact lived in the hills overlooking the beauty and the madness. An analysis of both novels clearly reveals that the center presents a trap while the margin presents an escape.
The Marginal Path to Meaning in Life
Mrs. Dalloway and The Long Goodbye both use the theme of the contradiction of margin and center, in society and the novel, to examine what path leads to meaning in life. The “margin” in these novels indicates a peripheral relationship whether that is peripheral status in society, physical location, or supporting characters contrasted by main characters. Marginalization often has a negative connotation, and implies a secondary or lesser status. The “center”, on the other hand, is associated with the elite of society, the physical center, the main characters, and has a positive connotation. Mrs. Dalloway explores the margin and the center through the context of London social structure and hierarchy, as well as through the structure of the book. Like Mrs. Dalloway, The Long Goodbye examines the contradiction of margin and center through content and structure; however, rather than examine hierarchies in society, the novel considers the social position of characters and their geographic location. In both novels, the center presents a trap while the margin presents and escape.[CS1]
In Mrs. Dalloway, Peter Walsh and Septimus Smith are both marginal characters, in society as well as the book, eluding judgment from mainstream society, and allowing them to follow their own path through the world. While on the margin, they are not constrained by the social conditioning and pressures of the elite society. Septimus, an unemployed, delusional war veteran, sees doctors regularly as a result of the frequent delusions and detachments he suffers from. He generally detests the doctors, convinced that “Human nature, in short, was on him… Holmes was on him”(90). Septimus desires nothing more than to avoid the doctors’ scrutiny and judgment. His peripheral position in society, and his delusions, allow him to do that. He wants to remain in the margin, but with “Holmes on him”(90), he feels forced into the center, emotionally. Although not always happy, he decides that existing peripherally allows a certain kind of escape, realizing “now that he was condemned, deserted, as those who are about to die are alone, there was a luxury in it, an isolation full of sublimity; a freedom which the attached can never know”(90). From his marginal position, no one could touch him or judge him. He could pursue his own path of discovery, and maintain his freedom and shreds of happiness. Peter Walsh, an aging colonial bachelor, is similarly on the edge of the society, envisioning himself as “The solitary traveler, haunter of lanes, disturber of ferns, and devastator of great hemlock plants, looking up, suddenly sees the giant figure at the end of the ride”(55). From his marginal position, he feels that he has no need to return to society. His exclusion has offered him a path to discovery, realization and happiness. However, to realize the privilege of being on the margin, he has to spend time with the center. During a visit with Mrs. Dalloway, he values “the silver, the chairs; all so delicious!”(40) Only a few minutes later in the visit, however, Peter sees, “the chair covers and old valuable English tinted prints–– he was a failure! I detest the smugness of the whole affair…”(42). Without the contrast, he cannot value the position he is in. For decades, Peter has known Mrs. Dalloway, once in love with her, now just as friends, but those decades of interaction with the center helped shape his value for escape in the margin.
Mrs. Dalloway, in her contrasting position in the center, is a part of the elite of society and therefore subject to its judgments. Richard Dalloway, her husband, and Peter Walsh, both think of her as nothing more than a hostess. Neither of them understands why she throws parties, “‘Yes, yes but your parties––what’s the sense of your parties?’”(118). They don’t understand or appreciate that the parties are what make her happy, that “They’re an offering…”(118) to the world to create meaning in her life. Because of his drastic contrast to herself, she is fascinated to hear about Septimus Smith’s suicide. At first she is shocked that an unknown, delusional man’s suicide would be discussed at her party, but Septimus’s actions grab hold of her psyche. She remembers that the only thing she ever threw away was a schilling. In contrast, Septimus threw everything away. Septimus was an outcast from society, defied the judgment of doctors and through defying conformity, and the center, his death had meaning to Clarissa. Clarissa believes that Septimus understood that “Death was an attempt to communicate; people feeling the impossibility of reaching the center which, mystically, evaded them; closeness drew apart; rapture faded, one was alone. There was an embrace in death”(180). His death communicated [CS2]that pursuing the center leaves one alone, and the effort robs one of their treasure, while the margin is an escape from the judgments and loneliness of the center.
In The Long Goodbye, Phillip Marlowe meets many people who are elite in society and central to the novel, but live on the periphery, hoping a geographical escape will translate into a social escape. One place he regularly finds trouble is the peripheral Idle Valley, investigating Sylvia’s murder and Terry’s apparent death. The elite enclave is set off from the world by “the stretch of broken-paved road from the highway to the curve of the hill [that] was dancing in the noon heat… Then I was around the hill on the blacktop and in another country”(242). The broken highway is a physical marker of the social and environmental changes between L.A. and the valley, and of the contrast between character and geography. In the valley, Marlowe meets the Wades and the Lorings; young, successful couples living in a beautiful, unspoiled environment. The purity of the environment, however, is countered by the impurity of their characters. They exhibit infidelity in marriage, alcohol and substance abuse, and commit murder. Appearances of a tranquil environment and success are deceiving: “I have a beautiful home, a beautiful wife and a beautiful sales record. But all I really want is to get drunk and forget”(243). Although Roger Wade lives in Idle Valley, on the geographic margin, he was like so many characters in the center: corrupt, unhappy and desiring escape. His life in the center is a trap to him, no matter where he lives.
In contrast to Idle Valley, Marlowe considers himself to live in L.A., in the geographic center, but in fact lives in the hills overlooking the beauty and the madness. In that position he is on the margin, removed from the sprawling city and trouble around him, observing, “Out there in the night of a thousand crimes people were dying… A city no worse than others…a city lost and beaten and full of emptiness. It all depends on where you sit and what your private score is. I didn’t have one. I didn’t care”(274) His very simple and removed attitude reveals contrasts between his marginal character and central geographic location. Living amidst all the chaos of L.A. he is not caught up in “the big sordid crooked dirty city,”(249) he is removed and can objectively observe what he sees. That quality allows him to develop his own marginal system of values and behavior in contrast to the values and behavior of characters in the center. He exhibits an unusual lack of greed, clings to loyalty and places high value on truth and justice. After Eileen kills herself, Marlowe takes a copy of her murder confession and gives it to a newspaper to publish. He doesn’t want any money, and his only terms are to “print the confession in full…”(331). By allowing the confession to be printed, the truth, and the whole truth will be made known about Eileen Wade and the murders of Roger Wade and Sylvia Lennox. Justice appears in the form of Terry being absolved of any wrongdoing in Sylvia’s death. Marlowe’s marginal quality of valuing truth and justice is an escape from getting caught up in the trouble of center.[CS3]
An analysis of both novels clearly reveals that the center presents a trap while the margin presents an escape. All though the methods of examination are different for each, the conclusions are basically the same. Living on margin, or existing as an outcast is not a negative thing as commonly believed. The conclusions drawn from both novels suggest that being on the margin is actually an empowering position. One is free from judgment, free to follow their own path, and free to have values and take action that gives meaning to their life. The meaning is in the end, and the end all depends on the marginal road taken to get there. [CS4]
[CS1]Great introduction. GREAT. I know exactly where I am and I understand your point of view clearly. Excellent job.
[CS2]to Clarissa…. And then follow up with what she does with this information from her “center” position.
[CS3]And yet he does get caught up in it—evaluate the contradictions of his position/values and the results/actions.
[CS4]
Paul:
This is a truly impressive rewrite. You took your ideas and really ran with them in this draft. The most impressive improvement here is the improved organization/development within the paragraphs—not only are the central claims clearer and stronger, but the ties between ideas and the progression within the paragraphs pushes your ideas while clearly demonstrating connections between evidence and ideas. Excellent work! If I have one issue, it’s that the ends of the paragraphs occasionally under-evaluate the significance of the assertion—I often feel they need another sentence or two to finish out the idea. Still, the magnitude of the progress this represents is significant—and it makes for an essay that is not only fun to read but one from which I learned something, and that’s best of all.
Bravo! May I have a copy for my folder?
AW
5+5+5+5+5=25=98
Previous grade: 87
Average: 92.5 (93)