Details are distracting...

Does anyone remember the movie The Cell with J Lo, Vince Vaughn and Vincent D'Onofrio? I hate to admit it because I loathe Jennifer Lopez but I found that movie interesting. The idea of someone getting to witness and even be a part of my dreams captivated me and perhaps Science will get us there someday. One thing in particular that got me thinking was how specific and detailed the crazy killer bad guy's dreams were. I don't know about everyone else but while I'm dreaming the minute details really don't exist in my subconscious. I might be able to recall certain colors, items, people and places that are involved in my nightly stream of consciousness but if it came down to painting an accurate portrait of all my surroundings there would be absolutely no way for me to do it. However, what does remain extremely vivid, whilst dreaming and even when I awake, is what took place and how these dreams made me feel. That's how I felt throughout the entirety of Edgar Huntly.

In class someone brought up the idea that they felt that it was "dark" throughout the whole text. I on the other hand never visualized anything. I vaguely recall thinking of trees, rivers and caves but what stood out to me more was the emotions that Edgar relates through his narrative, and even in repeating Clithero's narrative. Since this text involves not one, but two sleep walkers the dream-like writing style really worked for me. This allowed me to concentrate on what I felt like was really pertinent to C.B.B.'s novel. Even though we don't get a play by play of his fight with the Natives we know he fought and killed them while getting pretty bloodied himself. I kept thinking about how paralyzingly terrifying it would be to have to quietly sit in an unfamiliar environment while cautiously planning out some form of attack. Don't breath too loud, don't step there, stay low, etc all to avoid detection. When a bullet grazes Edgar's cheek it's easy to imagine the sensation of the stinging, the blood dripping and the sheer panic at being shot at but I was more concerned with him escaping.

Page 191 begins with Edgar having left the young captive girl with the group of beat up men, including her father and he sets out to find the remaining Native that he had not yet killed along with his companions.

"My eye was now caught by movements which appeared like those of a beast. In different circumstances, I should have instantly supposed it to be a wolf, or panther, or bear. Now my suspicions were alive on a different account, and my startled fancy figured to itself nothing but an human adversary.

A thicket was on either side of the road. That opposite to my station was discontinued at a small distance by the cultivated field. The road continued along this filed, bounded by the thicket on the one side, and the open space on the other. To this space the being who was now descried was cautiously approaching.

He moved upon all fours, and presently came near enough to be distinguished. His disfigured limbs, pendants from his ears and nose, and his shorn locks, were indubitable indications of a savage. Occasionally he reared himself above the bushes, and scanned, with suspicious vigilance, the cottage and the space surrounding it. Then he stooped, and crept alone as before."

I really like these three paragraphs for several reasons. One being that the nature surrounding Edgar creates a tunnel vision type feeling. Being surrounded by foliage on either side creates this feeling of claustrophobia which only enhances the fear of the danger that he is in. The brief mention of the field and the cottage left me as the reader disregarding them completely and concentrating on the animalistic qualities that Edgar uses to describe the dangerous human. In the first paragraph he even mentions that had he not already been aware of his assailant he would assume it would be some form of preying animal but since he is attuned to the existence of the "savage" he is prepared to deal with him. The way he describes the Indian's stooping, rearing and scanning creates this idea that his enemy is brutal and his animal-like characteristics give you a sense that Edgar is being stalked.

Rather than distract the reader with unnecessary details of what kind of shrubbery, what kind of fields, the exact floor plan of the cottage etc we know the necessities. Edgar could die and that would be bad.

Another much longer passage I would like to point out is pages 214-216ish. There is a very long excerpt regarding Edgar's relationship with water. He mentions that he "reached without difficulty the opposite bank" then thinks again about recrossing the water. Thinks maybe it would be a good idea to remove his clothing then decides he better not be running around the wilderness naked (for obvious safety reasons) and then comes to the conclusion that the river saves him from traveling by road. What I find really interesting in these pages is that this is a fairly beefy passage that shows us that although he struggles with exhaustion from swimming and he's uncomfortable, wet and most likely cold Edgar still embraces the advantages of utilizing the river. In his case he is saved by water while on the final page of the text (285) in one very brief sentence Clithero's fate is made known and his death was caused by forcing "himself beneath the surface, and was seen no more." To summarize water saved Edgar but water killed Clithero. This seems substantial as we've established that Clithero is Edgar's "alter-ego." If anyone has any thoughts on this matter send them my way.

Here's one of the dream scenes from The Cell. Enjoy!