The Moonstone
Thomas Collins in The Moonstone begins his novel with the traditional portrayal of India; a place filled with adventure, booty, mysticism, savageness, and treachery. There seems to be a pervasive fear through out the British folk through out his novel; a fear of mixing of races, of moral corruption, of a savage's disregard for human life, and a fear of them lurking in the shadows. However this not what Collins wishes this to be the final impression of India for his audience. What Collin instead creates a noble portrait of India filled with piety, ancient duty, and of sacrifice through his effective portrayal of the good Ezra Jennings, subtle description of the final resting place of the Moonstone, the revelation of the true nature of Godfrey Ablewhite, and the subtle hypocrisy of all the British prejudices towards the Indians. In the beginning of the novel we get an account of the history of the Moonstone up till John Herncastle becomes in possession of it. It is told by a reliable and trusted family member, the cousin of John Herncastle, who has no interest in relating this tale in a falsely negative light for it reflects badly upon everyone in his family. Although it is never explicitly written that John Herncastle murde
Although improper behavior he allows her to remain at Franklin's bedside all through the night, and he in fact leaves them alone together in the interest of love. Even in Ezra Jennings, who is the crucial aid in solving the specifics of the theft of the Moonstone, this instinct arises in Betteredge. In the end the fear of the motives of those of non-British descent is quite unfounded once again. This heightens the cousin's suspicion: "I looked at him narrowly. In the last scene of the novel Murthwaite writes of not of gold decadence or violence, but of awe-inspiring peace. A British gentleman dismissed Indian religion as a mere superstition and it would take an undeniable Indian expert who is also a British gentleman to refute this common opinion. I have not only no proof that he killed the two men at the door; I cannot even declare that he killed the third man inside-for I cannot even declare that he killed the third man inside-for I cannot say that my own eyes saw the deed committed" (58). Although Herncastle's cousin has his suspicions he cannot accuse Herncastle with "good reason" (58): "If I made the matter [the murders] public, I have no evidence but moral evidence to bring forward. Collins places them far apart in the novel purposefully because he does not wish to make such a bold anti-British statement. Once again it is only a suspicion that convicts this Indian. The prevalent fear of Indians lurking around only waiting for the opportunity to take advantage of British weakness is never fulfilled throughout the progress of the novel. The key word "betray" is telling that Bruff thought that this Indian was masquerading as a British gentleman. Collins exposes the foundation of hypocrisy supporting the British fear of the Indian deception through two British gentlemen.
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Acceptance Essays
