REFLECTION OF MIXED EMOTIONS THROUGH ‘NATURAL LANDSCAPE’ IN WILKIE COLLINS’ MYSTERY THE GUILTY RIVER

  • Mariappan Gnana Bharathi et al.

Abstract

Nature, a mystic thing, acts as a mirror of our mixed feelings. The perspectives of human mind are reflected through the visual descriptions of the landscape in most of the literary works. A human mind, when distressed, happens to notice even a minute detail of natural elements with a magnified view and the same looks still when the mind is content. The vivid descriptions of nature to represent the emotions in the characters are often present in mystery novels too, as most of its plot hangs upon a problem and its solution.

            Wilkie Collins The Guilty River revolves around the three key characters- Gerard Roylake, Cristel Toller and The Lodger.Gerard Roylake,returns from Germany to take up his inheritance at Trimley Deen near the river name Loke, which is considered to be the ugliest of all. He meets his childhood friend Cristel Toller and falls in love. But The Lodger (a deaf man) is also obsessed with Cristel. The plot deals with the rivalry among these two, with a flavour of mystery ingredients and the essence of the muddy river plays an eminent role in the lives of the three key characters.

Published
2019-11-15
Section
Articles