A Whistling Woman by A. S. Byatt.
Chapter XIII (p. 191 - 211)
| Setting | Oxford |
| Characters | Kieren Quarrell |
| Action | The two psychologists exchange correspondence about Josh Lamb and Lucy Nighby. Kieren brings Josh and Lucy to Elvet's professional grounds. [Keiren Quarrell writes] "It [television] is not trivial but terrible. It will change the nature of our consciousness, that of the wise, as much as that of the ignorant and foolish. It will show our world to us." [p. 197] "No two people step in the same river, and no two people watch the same television programme." [p. 197] |
| Comment | I also like the style of changing the mode of describing what is happening by using correspondence as the vehicle. The quote about televsion showing our world to us is excellent. |
| Setting | Oxford |
| Characters | Kieren Quarrell |
| Action | Everyone watches Frederica's first television program. Paul-Zag becomes overly excited, particularly when the television program began discussing twins. When the program is over and the others have left, Josh continues to watch the snow pattern on the television screen. He feels that he is receiving a message. [Keiren Quarrell writes] "It [television] is not trivial but terrible. It will change the nature of our consciousness, that of the wise, as much as that of the ignorant and foolish. It will show our world to us." [p. 197] "No two people step in the same river, and no two people watch the same television programme." [p. 197] |
| Comment | Having Josh's experienced described in the same manner as other "real" events is another literary device that I approve of. It "is" real for him, and deserves the same level of treatment. |
| Setting | Oxford |
| Characters | Brenda Pincher |
| Action | Brenda describes an event where the Quakers/mental patients met. Ferrar tries to faith heal Lucy, but she recoils, very upset. |
| Comment |
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| Setting | Oxford |
| Characters | Josh Lamb |
| Action | Lucy approaches Josh and kneels before him, saying "All my life." She then indicates that she is willing to go to court to explain what happened when she and her family were all covered in blood. Basically she says that Gunner initiated the fight and suggested that he was the one who had hurt the children as well as her. Lucy then indicates that she is planning to give her farm to the religious (therapeutic) community and Josh Lamb (who now takes his original surname of Ramsden). |
| Comment | Josh is now showing signs of having a "supernatural" effect on others. Once again, I like the writing that gives Josh a name that corresponds to his mental state. |
| chap 12 | chap 13 |