The Beast, Essay Example

Henry James (1843-1916) is a notable author and critically recognized for his short stories and novellas. The Beast in the Jungle and The Jolly Corner are two short fiction works by James noteworthy of his recurrent theme of life and the need for each of us to live life to the fullness; being careful to see beyond our own self limiting concepts and perceptions. The main characters in these two novellas live their lives blind to their innermost persona. John Marcher spends his life feeling different and constantly searching and waiting for some unknown event to suddenly occur.  Spencer Brydon lived his life not realizing his unsettled emotions until he moves back home and is suddenly face-to-face with his inner apparition.  The characters, although similar regarding James’ theme of life, are vastly different.

Marcher spends his life waiting, anticipating and worrying. He feels different and believes ‘something’ is going to happen to him. He identifies with a beast living out of place. Brydon, after living a life chosen and enjoyed, returns to his birthplace to realize he has questions and regrets about the choices he has made.  He identifies an alter ego, appearing as a ghost or apparition haunting him. Marcher and Brydon both feel displaced and unsure of what life really holds for them. The beast and the ghost represent regrets and ‘what if’ scenarios for both characters.  These symbols haunt them and represent unanswered questions.

While Marcher is preoccupied his whole life, the beast in his façade he hides behind is ferocious and fierce. Symbolizing the deep yearning of the years he has spent waiting and watching; literally springing forth from his inner soul. Attacking him for allowing his life to past by and all of the missed opportunities.  Brydon’s ghost creeps into his life, taunting him and making him question the choices he made years prior.  While Marcher’s beast is attacking in nature, Brydon’s ghost steals into his life unexpectedly.

In The Beast in the Jungle Marcher spends time with May Bertram, much like the relationship between Spencer Brydon and Alice Staverton. What both men fail to see is the romantic relationship May and Alice desire. Both women recognize the beast and ghost these men carry. What Marcher has been waiting for his whole life passes him by as May dies. It is then that he realizes what he has lost and his inner beast erupts. Brydon’s ghost haunts him while he converses with Alice.  Both women try to guide the men to see the dilemmas they are dealing with.

As the ghost presents to Brydon, he views it as “rigid and conscious, spectral yet human” (James, chapter 2). The ghost, an apparition of himself, has lost two fingers.  Representing a part of his life lost, or ‘shot off’ and gone.  Alice feels sorrow for the ghost, although she is aware of what the ghost represents. She helps Brydon to realize his questioning and longing for the lost past. He is able to realize what the ghost means. Marcher’s realization of what he has lost comes quickly like a beast in the jungle. May was able to help him recognize this, but unfortunately it was too late for Marcher.

The character of Marcher is seen as selfish and egocentric; overly concerned with himself.  May points out “he really didn’t remember the least thing about her” (James, Chapter 1). Even as May describes her blood disorder and impending death, Marcher is more concerned about what this will mean to him. He sees May as his anchor, although in the sense that she is meant to support and help him in his plight of uncertainly and self proclaimed prophesy of exceptional fate.  The beast is significant in that the story is a tragedy for all of the characters and the beast can be defined as the ego of Marcher. The beast is there within him and emerges as May dies and he realizes the monster he has created within himself comes to life.

The character of Brydon is revealed in the story as someone who has drive and ambition but chooses a life of leisure; leaving behind a high salary career for a life searching for what his soul desires in the artistic world.  The choice he made was for himself, without thinking of his family or Alice. This can be seen as a selfish act such as Marcher’s. The difference is Brydon listens to his ghost and the story has a happy ending. Both men lived a life mixed with egoism, just to different degrees.

The dominant comparable theme for both of these stories by Henry James relates to the meaning of life. Marcher and Brydon both face the unanswered question of ‘what if’ and doubtfulness of choices and actions of life.  Both are obsessed by the meaning of life.  The Beast in the Jungle represents a man living in a world alien to him. He lives in it every day but is constantly waiting on his ‘specialness’ to become evident; hoping this will make everyone see his exceptionality.  Brydon avoids questions about himself, putting people off and ‘hiding’ as an apparition.  Whereas Marcher is overbearing such as a ‘beast’, Brydon remains low-key, hidden and to himself. Both characters are hiding, just in two extreme methods.

Henry James’ The Beast in the Jungle and The Jolly Corner are two novellas centered on the meaning and quality of life. One is a paradoxical tragedy and the other a ghost story with a happy ending.  Being able to see past the obvious and letting go of self-centeredness and insensitivity towards others is a major part of living a meaningful and happy life. Hiding behind ‘beasts’ or ‘an apparition’ is easier than the truth in some situations. However, continuing to live life in this manner will produce inner turmoil constant disorder and confusion.

Works Cited

James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Fiction (1908).  New York: Bantam Books, 1983.