The Moonstone offers a fascinating view of the social constructions of the late 19th century that creates a unique dynamic. Many of the actions made by characters in the book are formal and when there is an outburst, they immediately apologize for “breaking the norm.” I found it interesting that it reflected an almost feudal system where the rich family was waited on by several servants, however, it was much more progressive as the relationship between the characters was not only financially motivated but often out of love or loyalty. Despite potential motivations for their work, the servants were much like an extended family to the nobles they served. This book reflected the strong distinction of social class between these nobles, government officials, and the common servants and lower class, evident during this time period.
This novel seems like one of the original thief stories. I noticed connections between both mystery and crime forms of media. These connections to mystery include a highly observant detective seeking the truth who is hedged up from every side. Such films, books and tv shows as the timeless Sherlock Holmes come to mind in this department. The intricacies of the plot to steal the diamond remind me of Ocean’s 8, which is a film about an inside job performed to steal a multimillion-dollar diamond. In the real world, we rarely hear about intricate thieving plots.
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| The Moonstone was a large diamond worth an outrageous amount |
While participating in a discussion online at Goodreads.com, I found an interesting viewpoint on what this book brings many firsts to the table by Bill Kerwin. He points out that this book was the first to detective novel with a large guest list of suspects, the first to have a small, suggestive clue have significant impacts, the first crime reenactment at the scene of the crime, and the first pursuit of a disguised criminal through a major city.
I believe that this book opened up a new form of entertainment. While many novels already existed, this genre engages a new market of mystery lovers. This niche of entertainment has become a large part of the entertainment industry with thousands of films, books, and stories utilizing precedence’s set by The Moonstone.
A quote that struck a chord with me was when a character of the book was announced to have killed herself, Gabriel, the narrator at the time, made the quote:
“Your tears come easy, when you're young, and beginning the world. Your tears come easy, when you're old, and leaving it. I burst out crying.” - Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone
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I agree with you and Jessie-- that last quote is said in such a way that I had to read it over twice so that I could feel like I was truly appreciating it. I typically don't like books, movies, or story lines that don't make their audience think, which is perhaps why I could see myself reading this book in the near future. The quote by itself helps the reader contemplate multiple meanings, which is essentially the purpose of the detective novel. The reader is meant to consider several different possibilities and conclude which one is the most logical. This book appears to contain two in one: writing that makes the reader think and a plot that presents multiple possible solutions.
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