There are two aspects of this novel that I would like to focus on. The ideas that children’s literature in the nineteenth century portrayed no detailed setting and had predictable plotlines were both challenged in The Hidden Hand.
“Beneath that range of rocks, and between it and another range, there was an awful abyss or chasm of cleft, torn and jagged rocks opening, as it were, from the bowels of the earth, in the shape of a mammoth bowl, in the bottom of which, almost invisible from its great depth, seethed and boiled a mass of dark water of what seemed to be a lost river or a subterranean spring” (Southworth 157). This description of Devil’s Punch Bowl clearly paints a picture in your mind of what their surroundings were. Throughout The Hidden Hand Southworth really makes it easy for readers to “see” what she is describing. These specific descriptions are very different from what we have seen in our earlier readings. The other novels let you use your imagination as to what the characters looked like, as well as their environments. We discussed in class how everyone had differing opinions about what Ellen Montgomery looked like, while Capitola is described with “bright black hair, parted in the middle, fell in ringlets each side her blushing cheeks, her dark-gray eyes…” (Southworth 181).
I believe the plotline in The Hidden Hand is more unpredictable than previous novels. Old Hurricane is a major cause of this. He is the “kind stranger” in this story, the role we see repeatedly. While Old Hurricane is a kind man in that he immediately goes to rescue Capitola, his personality is not the usual soft-spoken, sweet old man we have seen before. He is a lot more gruff and harsh on the outside and orders people around, like his slaves at home and the people on the street in New York. “Shut the door, you rascal, or I’ll throw the bootjack at your wooden head” (Southworth 155). No one messes with Major Warfield. Since this was a serial publication, perhaps Southworth made Old Hurricane’s personality like this to make the story a bit more suspenseful making the readers want to come back for more. Every time I began to get frustrated with Old Hurricane when he was being rude his kind heart showed through. “Capitola, I’m an old bachelor; I’ve not the least idea what a young girl requires; all I know is, that you have nothing…So come along with me to one of those Vanity Fairs they call fancy stores and get what you want; I’ll foot the bill” (Southworth 201). Warfield is so generous and wants to help some people that are less fortunate.
I also thought it was interesting that Southworth put so much effort into details. All of the characters are described fairly in depth as opposed to our other stories. The scenery is also very detailed and paints a vivid picture in the readers' minds. This is very different from what common practices are found in children's literature that we discussed in class at the begining of the year.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you discussed Old Hurricane and how he is different than the previous kind strangers that we have seen. His exterior gruff really gives him a different feel. I also agree with what you said about the details; it was very different to have such a vivid picture painted for us instead of being able to just use our imagination.
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about how the plotline in the Hidden Hand is unpredictable. Most of the strangers that we have seen have been nice old men who are described as being very kind. But Old Hurricane is the complete opposite of what we expect him to be. Even we learn that he is a mean man he still does random acts of kindness which is unpredictable.
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