The Moving Finger Answer Pointers

The Moving Finger

English Literature

In what ways does the author makes the readers sympathise with the character, Grancy and Claydon?

Rising action: Grancy’s first wife dies

She was overbearing and Grancy was always in her shadows. He blossomed in with his wife holding his hand. He always needed someone in life

• The second wife dies before his life could even bliss. Thus, she was a short lived conjugal bliss. The story progresses to see where this man goes
• He tries to constantly fight back with fate and his heroic streak of not giving up makes him a round character
• He does not brood as a widow but moves away to upgrade himself to a public sector job where he represents the country. This government job shows that he is constantly trying to upgrade himself instead of accepting what fate has in hold for him
• The author evokes sympathy through the character, Grancy as he is constantly beaten by fate
• Another reason to why he evokes sympathy is when he finds out Clayton has painted the intimate look of Mrs Grancy in the commissioned portrait. The social responsibility and aristocracy is represented by Grancy. Even though, he thrives in a patriarchal society and he is a social man, a good husband, a wonderful friend, he was still cheated by fate, his friends and wife.
• Touch on key events, plot, narrative techniques, evidences (3-4) and strong, superfluous diction
• Evidences needed for diction used to describe Mr. Grancy 
• This man is powerfully portrayed in the society. A strong figure in the society upholding strong Victorian and patriarchal values. 
• How he is portrayed? Why is he portrayed like this?
• At some point, the author makes you question the Victorian values of this male. He objectifies the need for women in his life. Objectification of women seen in the story. It is more of a greed, a want than a need. 
  • The author portrays Claydon as a periphery in the story, thus evokes more curiosity in him than Claydon. This character is made more dynamic as he views society from his paintbrush. Claydon evokes more curiosity than sympathy, thus intrigues the readers. 
  • For the five years she was dead, he did not think of her as such. He still engages in a conversation with the dead wife’s portrait. 
  • Techniques used is supernatural. The constant change in the narrator evokes suspense in the story. 
  • The denouement in the story provides sympathy for Claydon
  • The suspense in the rising action is built when Claydon refuses to meet with Grancy. The portrait in the wall is another character in the story.
  • The painting in the wall is more of a character than the objectified woman.
  • As it is feminist writer, she portrays Mrs. Grancy as a painting for revenge as if Victorian objectification is not allowed. A lot of power is seen to subjugate her as a painting. They want power over her even after her death (her painting). So, she is subjected and objectified. A power play seen for her. They do not want her, but the power they get from having her.
  • The central conflict in the story comes the artist painted her with intimacy. The look of hers that he painted could only be done if he was in love with her as there is intimacy seen. But this relationship is not sanctified in the Victorian society.
  • Claydon provides a more artistic love whereas Grancy provides a more mundane love. The clash of love is the central conflict. 
  • The reign of the story occurs with the constant flow of events and actions of the story. 
  • Our sympathy has been taken away from Claydon as his character is tarnished. He is the one who betrayed the friendship as he reaches out for the lady his friend possesses. 
  • Grancy’s death is the fourth failure in his life. We are left with the mystery on who killed fancy? Possessiveness? Greed? His wife?
  • The husband and wife joked about the fact if he got sick of her. So she got sick of him and found a way out of the relationship. However, he did not like her for her character but what she symbolised. He objectified her, thus does not value her presence. 

In what ways does the author makes the readers sympathise with the character, Grancy and Claydon?

• When you answer a question, give thesis statements, narrative techniques and characterisation
• In the question, we discuss protagonist and antagonist’s actions
• How does he hold the plot?
• How complex is characterisation?
• The story is an allegory to show the male entities subjugate the female characters. 
• Give your own perspective as a modern reader/ audience 
• In a drama, YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT EMOTIONS, CONFLICT ON STAGE AND STAGE DIRECTIONS IN AN ESSAY/ EXTRACT QUESTION
• How a modern reader looks as a Victorian society?
• Narrator/ Voice- evoked sympathy 
• Ethos, Pathos
• Background of writer, writer, author’s purpose, motifs and symbols, characterisation, narrative techniques 
• Motif- Triangular love
• WRITER- Victorian American writer
• The characters are rich, opulent people who are aristocracy
• There characters undergo psychological decay
• In this backdrop of aristocracy making way for democratic principles in America, Wharton questions the pride and morality of the patriarchal Victorian society. 
• The death of one woman can be so impactful on the men even if they objectify them

THEMES

1. Loneliness

• Mr Grancy felt lonely and went insane with the need of woman. Loneliness makes lose balance in life
• Seen in abject misery in both the deaths
• The repainting of the portrait stems from the loneliness of Mr. Grancy
• The character was insecure that he was older than her and he wanted her to make a part of the house as a presence
• “It was only a picture lost to you, it was my life regained”
• The men try to contain her by repainting her