Monday, January 25, 2010
One of our classmates made a statement concerning the dedication of the book. I had completely forgotten that the dedication was even there, but after class I read that section of the book again. At the end of chapter eleven (page 166), Malone dedicated the lake to Gladys. Challenger asks if Malone is sure and after a little questioning Malone keeps the name, while Challenger remarks, "Boys will be boys". After this scene Malone forgoes the safety of the campsite and ventures out into Maple White Land to see the lake for himself. It seems that Maple White Land has brought out the adventure seeking boy within Malone. I was wondering why Doyle had included these scenes in his book, but it seems that he wanted to help the reader embrace their inner child and sense of adventure. Why do you all think these connections to the dedication were included, or what other connections did y'all find?
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Well one of the connections to the aspect of Malone maturing from a boy to a man was at the end of the novel when Malone, Challenger, Roxton and Summerlee are sitting in Lord Roxton's home discussing what they were going to do with the money that had come into their possession. Instead of spending it on something trivial, as one would have expected Malone to do based on his character profile at the start of the novel he decides to use it to go on another adventure with Lord Roxton. One can assume that this desire for adventure and knowledge and his separation from his love struck whimsical personality that was shown at the start of the novel and can be associated with him maturing from a boy into a man. The time the four spent in Maple White Land for Malone was similar to a test that indigenous tribes would have young boys do as a rite of passage into becoming a man. The character profile of Malone at the end of the novel confirms that he was successful in passing the test.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that Malone's decision to go on another adventure with Lord Roxton was a sign of him transforming from a boy to a man. Instead, I think his childish side was brought out by the adventures he had. I interpreted Doyle's inclusion of the connections between Malone and childlike behavior as a method of conveying that in order to truly live one has to have a connection with one's childhood. Furthermore, all of his boyish actions seem to be driven by a desire to prove himself worthy of Gladys's affection. If he were truly maturing on his own I believe he would have done these things on his own accord. Malone had visions of glory when he went on the search for the lake at the center of the plateau. He also admits openly that he was terrified to do any of the things that were a sign of maturity, but did them because he was afraid of what others would think. These do not seem like the actions of a mature man, but rather of a teenage boy.
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