Volume II: Differing Viewpoints, New Characters, and Sensibility

What I have found most interesting from the switch of narration being mostly Mr. Desmond to a variety of others are the skewed and dramatized accounts of each character. Smith’s decision to frame each character’s views and writing styles as diverse makes the reader mistrust the narration provided. Overall, the epistolary novel choice Smith made for this book creates a more interesting and real account of this time period.

I thought perhaps only the first volume was to build up a slightly untrustworthy narrator, just so we can have an understanding of the sensibility and romanticism that Mr. Desmond represents, but as I read volume ii I noticed that several others show different sides to the character Mr. Desmond described them as.

From the beginning, you can sense a deeper personality to Geraldine than Desmond describes. She shows sensibility and intense emotion, whereas earlier we have mostly viewed her as a victim to her husband’s misdemeanors and as the object of Desmond’s affections. Even as the object of Desmond’s affections, his narrative more describes his longing for her and her adorableness and perfection. The first volume shows almost no semblance of a genuine account with Geraldine. The second volume reveals letters written by Geraldine, which allow the reader to understand and sympathize with the character better than before, when she was a rather 1-dimensional character, simply by being a mystery to the reader. Her real, very intense emotions are shown, even the ones about Desmond, who before this point, there was no indication she was particularly interested in. However, we do see that the main reason she is concerned about him is because she “involved him in this fatal affair, and that whatever ill consequences finally attend it, will be imputable solely to [her]” (80). It becomes obvious that Geraldine has the most riding on her in this volume, and that she experiences the most anguish.

Fanny Waverly was introduced briefly in the first volume, but volume ii allowed the reader to get to know her character better. Similar to Geraldine, she shows sensibility very deeply when it comes to the health of others. She shows great concern for Desmond’s health after the duel and hopes for the best for him. But perhaps the strongest representation of her personality is the strength in which she cares for her sister. She warns her that her “husband really [doesn’t] care where [Geraldine is]” (69). Fanny’s love for her sister allows her to throw out any sense of duty a woman should have for her husband during this time and plea for her sister to leave Verney.

Something that I find interesting, and kind of confusing, is that Bethel’s character throws a wrench into the reader completely believing each character. He tries to send several wake-up calls Desmond’s way, and continues to fail, as Bethel insists that Desmond is not entitled to feel any romantic way towards Geraldine because she is not the type of woman to have an affair with him. This put an unease in the truthfulness of Desmond’s accounts of Geraldine, and how he feels he should pursue her. Another instance is when Bethel describes Fanny’s account of Desmond as “inconsistent and incoherent” (15). This means that either Bethel has a skewed view of others, or that he is the ultimate voice of reason. Because of his wisdom and rationality, he is able to foresee the true feelings of Geraldine towards Desmond – that she is not interested in Desmond in a romantic way. Throughout volume ii, she refers to him as a dear friend. Geraldine also confirms Bethel’s character by stating that he “is an excellent man… and does justice to those noble qualities of heart and understanding” (82).

Finally, I found the representation of sensibility in this volume interesting because although several characters claimed this trait, they seemed reluctant to do so. Sensibility is shown in almost a negative light, as it is shown in several occasions in this volume as too painful or silly. In the very first letter, Bethel tells Desmond that they need to “save [Geraldine’s] sensible heart from the anguish it must endure for her children—to spare her the mortification and misery she must feel” (7). In Letter XVII, Geraldine wishes to not “tear apart the sensible heart of [Fanny]” (153). This indicates that what they refer to as a ‘sensible heart’ is too weak to feel too much pain, or it could send one over the edge. This also made me think about our class discussion about sensibility going out of fashion because it was ridiculous in its ferocity, and the quote about sensibility leading to madness. It seems that in this volume, the characters understand the absurdity of sensibility, yet they recognize it in themselves and in others. Because they recognize it so well, they also grasp how much it can ravage ones emotions. In Letter XVIII, Geraldine describes sensibility as something reason cannot conquer, as it is what made her stay so attached to Verney for so long.

P.S. Sorry if this was too long and a little scattered, I just had a lot of thoughts.