New Grub Street by George Gissing: Day 36
Chapter 36
“He felt himself ill-used by destiny, and therefore by Marian, who was fate’s instrument.”
An insightful line into Milvain’s psyche. Faults can always be found by a mind plagued by discontent.
“Again Jasper held the white, soft hand for a superfluous moment.”
A superfluous and yet an essential moment!
The end of the chapter foretells the birth of two writers. It’s rather telling that all the male writers in the novel pursue fame, ambition, status, and wealth through writing. Women become writers out of necessity.
Join us on December 13 for a virtual discussion of New Grub Street with Yiyun Li.
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“He observed, too, with more disgust than usual, the signs in Marian’s attire of encroaching poverty—her unsatisfactory gloves, her mantle out of fashion. . . Whilst they spoke, the sky had grown dark with a heavy cloud, and now spots of rain begin to fall.” Gissing is a master at using these descriptions—of clothing to indicate class, of the weather for mood—throughout the book. Dialogue almost not necessary here.
So Jasper gets refused by Miss Rupert then lays the groundwork with Amy then goes and forces Marian's hand to move quickly knowing she can't so they can break up and he doesn't have to say I really don't love you. Marian had dodged a bullet here. The minute Jasper had to suffer a setback he'd be gone. Jasper will get what he wants out of life and Marian will be able to live guilt free but probably won't have material wealth. I love that Gissing doesn't pass judgement; he stands back and lets us squirm as we pass judgment on these folks. Morality is a social construct and I bet there will be as many opinions as there are readers on the morality of these decisions.