Hi everybody! This is my independent reading project blog. It's all about the academic mystery genre. Feel free to comment about anything pertaining to academic mystery and the use of the academic setting in novels.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers
This is the first academic mystery novel I've decided to venture into. It's written the earliest out of all the texts I have chosen to read. Click on the comments tab to unleash the mystery inside.
11 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Hey, Alisha! I'm the official reader of your blog.
Quick question, what is academic mystery? Or what's the difference between academic mystery and regular ol' mystery?
Well, this is the first time I've heard of academic mystery as well. Ms. Clapp recommended it based on the list of books I chose to read, but I think it's very interesting. I'm still figuring out what academic mystery exactly is. I think I'll gain a better understanding of it as I continue reading and comparing the novels.
But so far, I've concluded that it is a mystery that takes place in an academic setting, like at a college or in a classroom. As I read, I hope to discover more qualities of this genre as well as discover why there is a whole genre devoted to it. (What allure does an academic setting have?)
To answer your second question, I think academic mystery is just a subset of "regular ol' mystery." It's more specific because it describes a certain element about a mystery.
I'm not your official reader, but maybe I'll comment occasionally.
Y visita mi citio de blogger tambien.
And.. I didn't know that was what academic mystery was... hmmmm... interesting. My impression was something maybe more literate or ... nevermind I have no idea.
I had several expectations when I started reading this novel. I expected it to immediately jump right into a mystery, like Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons.” I expected gruesome murders and blood. Most of all, I expected it to be scary, like Agatha Christie’s novels (prime example: “And Then There Were None”). However, over a hundred pages in, none of these elements are present and this leads me to wonder if this is common in all academic mystery novels.
“Gaudy Night” is set in 1920s/30s England—basically it’s post-WWI. I know this because there seems to be a clash between the older and newer generations within the book; the former continuously mentions how people, especially undergraduates, had more respect and limitations before the war. This is consistent with the 1920s and 30s because the world went through a disillusionment phase in which people attempted to exercise more freedom, intellectually and physically (like with the flappers in America).
More specifically, the novel takes place at the fictitious Shrewsbury College of Oxford University—it’s the women’s branch of the university. I find the name ironic in the sense that a shrew is defined as “a woman of violent temper and speech” (Dictionary.com), implying that it is not a positive word to describe women. Why would Sayers, a female author, name the college for women Shrewsbury? Could she be suggesting that these are the type of women that attend college, or is she looking at this institution of women from the male’s perspective (at least during this time period)? I guess I’ll have to read on.
Either way, I think the name is significant because other names in the book have certain connotations as well. For example, the main character Harriet Vane’s name suggests she is a vain person, which seems to be true. Since the story is written in the third person limited point of view, the reader is able to see Harriet’s perspective and thoughts about others. From this I’ve concluded that she is judgmental, always judging the graduates’ and undergraduates’ appearances. She also wants others to realize her superior intellectual abilities as a mystery writer, rather than the incident in which she was accused of murdering her lover Philip Boyles, but was somehow released, claiming she didn’t do it. However, this is a mystery in itself—at least to the reader because Harriet has yet to reveal the entire story of that incident and why she was accused.
However, the main mystery arises when Harriet receives a graphic picture and a mysterious note, saying “you dirty murderess, aren’t you ashamed to show you face?” (58), at the Gaudy (“festival or celebration, esp. an annual college feast”—Dictionary.com) of the college’s alumni. She immediately discards them, by burning one and flushing the other down the toilet, thinking they are a direct attack against her. However, when the school term begins, there are many people that receive notes and pictures similar to Harriet’s and an outbreak of defacing school property. Harriet explains her story and is chosen as the “detective” to help find the culprit, since she has written several mystery books and has followed detectives before, to see how they operate and couldn’t be the culprit since she couldn’t have performed the more recent attacks (because she doesn’t live at the school). Now she must investigate the senior members of the school who were present at the Gaudy.
Unfortunately, this mystery does not interest me that much. I’m still hoping that Harriet reveals more of her murdered lover or that “a bloody corpse in the buttery” (57) will turn up because Harriet mentioned this as a joke, but it would add another layer to the story if the murder was actually carried out.
Still, I’m interested in the ideas presented in the novel. They reflect the time period and help learn more about women of the time. For example, the issue of a women being married frequently appears, as does whether or not men “care for an intellectual wife” (46). Also, the use of one’s talents seems to reappear often, like is it better to be a mother and wife and perform labor rather than pursue an intellectual calling? Should Harriet continue writing fictitious mystery books given the fact that she was accused of murder? I find these ideas more interesting than the central plot itself.
Finally, after two hundred pages, the mystery is starting to pick up. So far Harriet Vane has been doing detective work, interrogating people and being suspicious of everybody’s, especially the S.C.R.’s (Senior Common Room’s), whereabouts in hopes of catching the “Poltergeist” (A.K.A. Poison-Pen). However, now this prankster has almost been caught. She (the characters believe it’s a woman because the college is all women; however, I’m beginning to believe that it is a man who has a vendetta against women obtaining an education and resides past the wall where the men of Oxford study), turned off all the main fuse boxes in several dormitories and proceeded to disrupt campus by “breaking ink bottles, flinging papers into the fire, smashing lamps and crockery and throwing books through the windowpanes” (196). Although nobody sees or catches this mystery woman, this piece is interesting to read because it involves action since Harriet “ran desperately” (195) to apprehend the mischief maker. Plus, Sayers gives the reader the impression that this person will be caught since such a great commotion has been caused and even the students are eager to “catch her this time” (194), crowding around and barricading the area of the next supposed attack. However, they miscalculate allowing the poltergeist to escape. Still, this near brush with the troublemaker is exciting and arouses suspense, as I’m sure is Sayers’ purpose of introducing a chase with the troublemaker in sight.
However, I was a bit disappointed that Harriet is able to “clear” the Dean of the college, since she is with Harriet at the time of the incident and therefore cannot be the poltergeist. I was beginning to suspect that she was the culprit, especially since she appears most innocent since it is absurd for the Dean to disrupt her own college. Sayers compels the reader to believe her a primary suspect because of this reason and the fact that she (like the Warden) insists that these disturbances should not be made known to the public and that detectives should not be brought in. Although she makes it clear that this is done to not upset the students and embarrass them by exposing the graphic pictures and obscene words under question, as well as keep bad publicity away from a women’s college, she still seems like a suspect. However, now Sayers has cleared her, most likely to have the reader continue to keep guessing as to the identity of this troublemaker, keeping the mystery alive. (However, I must admit, it’s getting old… There’s still time for the body in the buttery to show up…)
This might be the allure for having a mystery in an academic setting. There are so many people to cast blame upon and “clear” which keeps a mystery going. Also, the sheer size of a college allows for it to be difficult to catch this troublemaker as well, as Harriet discovers while chasing the troublemaker and as she attempts to patrol the grounds, looking for any suspicious activity. Also, creating a mystery in an academic setting, forces the detective to think psychologically about the situation since the culprit is usually an intelligent person (because it’s at a college). Harriet needs to put herself in the culprit’s frame of mind and figure out her motives.
At the same time underlying this mystery, is the mystery of the aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey. He is frequently spoken of in the novel but has yet to appear in character. Why? This man hopes to marry Harriet, but she doesn’t want to and gives no explanation for refusing. It’s customary for women to marry in these days and a bit shameful if they don’t, so why doesn’t she? To maintain her independence? To not be in competition with her husband’s fame?
Although this book is classified as academic mystery, there are several romantic elements intertwined in the story. In fact, currently, the main character Miss (Harriet) Vane has two male suitors pursuing her. One is Mr. Pomfret who is ten years younger than Miss Vane. He claims that “he loved her, he adored her, he was intensely miserable, he could neither work nor play games for thinking of her, if she refused him he didn’t know what he should do with himself…” (248) This excessive “love” that Mr. Pomfret shows is interesting since they haven’t known each other very long and Miss Vane is definitely not looking for love. She is an intellectual and usually shies from discussions about marriage. During this time period, a woman’s place was in the home and standing by her husband. Many even “took the view that any husband was better than none at all” (231).
However, Miss Vane on the other hand does not share this view and wants to remain independent. Every couple of months she rejects the marriage proposal of the famous detective Peter Wimsey. They share the same line of work (they both like mystery; she writes it and he lives it), so Miss Vane won’t be sacrificing much or changing her ways for him, but still she refuses to get married. Perhaps this will be developed more as the story goes on.
It puzzles me as to why there are so many non-mystery elements present in the story, as opposed to academic mystery elements. Perhaps Sayers devotes some of her book to these non-mystery elements because it gives the reader historical background and enables us to get a sense of what living during a certain time period was like. Plus, the genre is “academic” so perhaps such novels as this are meant to teach the reader while engaging in a mystery. I am learning a great deal about the differences between the mindsets of women regarding education and the job a women chooses to fulfill. Also, the apparent “love stories” in the novel engage the reader more because it helps relate the story to real life. But perhaps this only pertains to early written academic mystery books. I’ll be sure to compare these aspects when reading academic mysteries written in later years.
Back to the mystery component…the case just turned serious. A promising school girl by the name of Miss Newlands, who has the prospect of being a First (one of the top students), has been persuaded by this vicious Poltergeist to commit suicide. This mystery woman bombarded the shy, studious girl with offensive threatening messages, the last of which were “In your place I should throw myself out of a window” and “try the river” (257), enough to make anybody depressed and scared. She attempts the latter, but fortunately the dons (female teachers) are able to rescue her before she drowns herself. Although reluctantly, the Warden and Dean finally decide to bring in others to help with the case. It has gotten too serious and the crimes are worsening. This leads me to think Peter Wimsey will come into the story—not just through Vane’s memory or through his letters. He should play a more significant role in the story by becoming involved in the action and putting his detective skills to work. Then I can truly evaluate his character as opposed to Miss Vane’s judgmental and self deceptive point of view.
I knew Lord Peter Wimsey would eventually enter the story and sure enough he does. Sayers discussed him a great deal so it is only appropriate to include him in the text to compare him to Miss Vane’s description of him, perhaps to learn more about Miss Vane herself since she refuses to marry him. He shows up unexpectedly, immediately following the “the storm…[which involved] the swish and rush of falling water, the gurgle of overflowing gutters, and peace” (279). I have yet to decide whether this choice of setting is used for foreboding purposes or to suggest a rebirth and future cleansing, at least for the mystery, sign there’s rain involved. Either way, I think it signifies that the case will be solved soon because obviously the story needs to end (hopefully with an end to the case, since this is the story’s focus) and because like in this metaphor, there will be “peace” after all of this mayhem and accusation. Detective Wimsey’s arrival only confirms this speculation.
Now since the college has finally abandoned its philosophy of “presenting a serene façade to the world” (201) during this time of crisis, the reader and Wimsey alike, expect that he is here solely to work on the case. However, it seems that Sayers may have brought him into the story for a different reason as well because Miss Vane is slowly learning a great deal more about him. They’ve known each other for a while now, but she is only just learning the basics about him, like his job and connection to Oxford. She thinks “she had not known [about Wimsey having a First in history]. She had not even troubled to wonder. She had never consciously connected Wimsey and Oxford in her mind. This was the Foreign Office business all over again…she saw herself as a monster of callous ingratitude” (284). The reader discovers Miss Vane’s disgust with herself for never inquiring about Wimsey, especially when he helped her so much. This leads me to believe that she is going to perhaps evaluate her reasons for not marrying him since she is learning more things about him, that she perhaps likes. At this rate, as they solve the mystery together, Miss Vane will most likely continue to learn more about Wimsey and like him enough to marry him.
With respect to the mystery, I’ve hit another lull. There has been no break in the case, with little more disturbances. However, now with Wimsey’s presence, that will most likely change, but I don’t understand why this would happen, if the culprit is one of the S.C.R members (Senior Common Room members—graduates of Shrewsbury like Miss Vane, who I guess to be in her 30s). Wouldn’t they be smart enough to know not to cause any mayhem when a famous detective is around? At this point in the story, I don’t understand how it could be one of them. They seem so suspicious of one another and it doesn’t make sense why they’d continue to cause disturbances when they know people, like Miss Vane, are attempting to find the culprit.
One interesting observation made was that “it struck her [Miss Vane] as strange that it should be the same thing” (291). The “it” refers to Peter Wimsey’s gown, customary attire at the college. Here Miss Vane noticed that both she and Wimsey have the same size gown. This is odd and probably will have some significance later. Now I’m beginning to suspect Wimsey, but this doesn’t make sense, since he’s been gone. Its lines like this, that occur immediately before a shift in the text, that prolong the mystery’s suspense.
Wow, you've done a lot. I didn't realize you were leaving your comments here. Whoops, sorry!
Anyhow, this book sounds interesting, and you've made a lot of good observations as to what elements could possibly make up the genre of academic mystery, and also the possible allure of having an academic setting. You also did a very good job noticing the other elements of the story- symbols, foreshadowing, etc.
I agree with your idea that authors may purposefully choose to place a mystery in an academic setting, because it allows for many possibilities, in terms of who could be causing the trouble, and that it makes the mystery more challenging, because whoever is guilty must be someone of intelligence. When you were talking about this, it actually reminded me of the Harry Potter books. Though it falls under the genre of fantasy, it usually involves a mystery, and it mostly takes place at the school of Hogwarts. I wonder if Harry Potter can be accurately considered an academic mystery, or if it is missing an element that would qualify it to be one.
You're absolutely right Jess! The book is like Harry Potter in that respect. (I can't believe I didn't make the connection since I love HP so much!) So far from what I've gathered, it seems to me that some of the books of the Harry Potter series could be considered academic mystery since they include a mystery in an academic setting--even though this academic setting is fanatical. In the first book, it was difficult to find the person who was helping Voldemort, just like in the second in which everybody is looking for the person who opened the Chamber of Secrets. Similar to this novel, Gaudy Night, it was difficult to deduce who these culprits were since the school was so large and there were so many possible suspects.
I keep thinking about your question.... and then i realized what it was that was confusing me...
When I think academic mystery... I see the word academic as almost "literary", like a step above... and more well refined/intelligent...
Because after reading your commments and you tellign me that you were reading Alieniest too... I don't think that it just means that it has an academic, as in school background. Becuase the Alienist is a straight-up murder mystery with no schools in it at all.
So I don't know.. but just contributing my thoughts....
Well the definition I created so far (for academic mystery) is what I've collected about the genre--characteristics I've found in Gaudy Night that could classify it as academic mystery. I'm not sure about the literary element, but I'll look into it. I need to read on and start comparing books to determine what the true definition is and why it is used.
11 comments:
Hey, Alisha! I'm the official reader of your blog.
Quick question, what is academic mystery? Or what's the difference between academic mystery and regular ol' mystery?
=)
Well, this is the first time I've heard of academic mystery as well. Ms. Clapp recommended it based on the list of books I chose to read, but I think it's very interesting. I'm still figuring out what academic mystery exactly is. I think I'll gain a better understanding of it as I continue reading and comparing the novels.
But so far, I've concluded that it is a mystery that takes place in an academic setting, like at a college or in a classroom. As I read, I hope to discover more qualities of this genre as well as discover why there is a whole genre devoted to it. (What allure does an academic setting have?)
To answer your second question, I think academic mystery is just a subset of "regular ol' mystery." It's more specific because it describes a certain element about a mystery.
Hi Alisha!!
I'm not your official reader, but maybe I'll comment occasionally.
Y visita mi citio de blogger tambien.
And.. I didn't know that was what academic mystery was... hmmmm... interesting. My impression was something maybe more literate or ... nevermind I have no idea.
Sounds interesting though.
I had several expectations when I started reading this novel. I expected it to immediately jump right into a mystery, like Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons.” I expected gruesome murders and blood. Most of all, I expected it to be scary, like Agatha Christie’s novels (prime example: “And Then There Were None”). However, over a hundred pages in, none of these elements are present and this leads me to wonder if this is common in all academic mystery novels.
“Gaudy Night” is set in 1920s/30s England—basically it’s post-WWI. I know this because there seems to be a clash between the older and newer generations within the book; the former continuously mentions how people, especially undergraduates, had more respect and limitations before the war. This is consistent with the 1920s and 30s because the world went through a disillusionment phase in which people attempted to exercise more freedom, intellectually and physically (like with the flappers in America).
More specifically, the novel takes place at the fictitious Shrewsbury College of Oxford University—it’s the women’s branch of the university. I find the name ironic in the sense that a shrew is defined as “a woman of violent temper and speech” (Dictionary.com), implying that it is not a positive word to describe women. Why would Sayers, a female author, name the college for women Shrewsbury? Could she be suggesting that these are the type of women that attend college, or is she looking at this institution of women from the male’s perspective (at least during this time period)? I guess I’ll have to read on.
Either way, I think the name is significant because other names in the book have certain connotations as well. For example, the main character Harriet Vane’s name suggests she is a vain person, which seems to be true. Since the story is written in the third person limited point of view, the reader is able to see Harriet’s perspective and thoughts about others. From this I’ve concluded that she is judgmental, always judging the graduates’ and undergraduates’ appearances. She also wants others to realize her superior intellectual abilities as a mystery writer, rather than the incident in which she was accused of murdering her lover Philip Boyles, but was somehow released, claiming she didn’t do it. However, this is a mystery in itself—at least to the reader because Harriet has yet to reveal the entire story of that incident and why she was accused.
However, the main mystery arises when Harriet receives a graphic picture and a mysterious note, saying “you dirty murderess, aren’t you ashamed to show you face?” (58), at the Gaudy (“festival or celebration, esp. an annual college feast”—Dictionary.com) of the college’s alumni. She immediately discards them, by burning one and flushing the other down the toilet, thinking they are a direct attack against her. However, when the school term begins, there are many people that receive notes and pictures similar to Harriet’s and an outbreak of defacing school property. Harriet explains her story and is chosen as the “detective” to help find the culprit, since she has written several mystery books and has followed detectives before, to see how they operate and couldn’t be the culprit since she couldn’t have performed the more recent attacks (because she doesn’t live at the school). Now she must investigate the senior members of the school who were present at the Gaudy.
Unfortunately, this mystery does not interest me that much. I’m still hoping that Harriet reveals more of her murdered lover or that “a bloody corpse in the buttery” (57) will turn up because Harriet mentioned this as a joke, but it would add another layer to the story if the murder was actually carried out.
Still, I’m interested in the ideas presented in the novel. They reflect the time period and help learn more about women of the time. For example, the issue of a women being married frequently appears, as does whether or not men “care for an intellectual wife” (46). Also, the use of one’s talents seems to reappear often, like is it better to be a mother and wife and perform labor rather than pursue an intellectual calling? Should Harriet continue writing fictitious mystery books given the fact that she was accused of murder? I find these ideas more interesting than the central plot itself.
Finally, after two hundred pages, the mystery is starting to pick up. So far Harriet Vane has been doing detective work, interrogating people and being suspicious of everybody’s, especially the S.C.R.’s (Senior Common Room’s), whereabouts in hopes of catching the “Poltergeist” (A.K.A. Poison-Pen). However, now this prankster has almost been caught. She (the characters believe it’s a woman because the college is all women; however, I’m beginning to believe that it is a man who has a vendetta against women obtaining an education and resides past the wall where the men of Oxford study), turned off all the main fuse boxes in several dormitories and proceeded to disrupt campus by “breaking ink bottles, flinging papers into the fire, smashing lamps and crockery and throwing books through the windowpanes” (196). Although nobody sees or catches this mystery woman, this piece is interesting to read because it involves action since Harriet “ran desperately” (195) to apprehend the mischief maker. Plus, Sayers gives the reader the impression that this person will be caught since such a great commotion has been caused and even the students are eager to “catch her this time” (194), crowding around and barricading the area of the next supposed attack. However, they miscalculate allowing the poltergeist to escape. Still, this near brush with the troublemaker is exciting and arouses suspense, as I’m sure is Sayers’ purpose of introducing a chase with the troublemaker in sight.
However, I was a bit disappointed that Harriet is able to “clear” the Dean of the college, since she is with Harriet at the time of the incident and therefore cannot be the poltergeist. I was beginning to suspect that she was the culprit, especially since she appears most innocent since it is absurd for the Dean to disrupt her own college. Sayers compels the reader to believe her a primary suspect because of this reason and the fact that she (like the Warden) insists that these disturbances should not be made known to the public and that detectives should not be brought in. Although she makes it clear that this is done to not upset the students and embarrass them by exposing the graphic pictures and obscene words under question, as well as keep bad publicity away from a women’s college, she still seems like a suspect. However, now Sayers has cleared her, most likely to have the reader continue to keep guessing as to the identity of this troublemaker, keeping the mystery alive. (However, I must admit, it’s getting old… There’s still time for the body in the buttery to show up…)
This might be the allure for having a mystery in an academic setting. There are so many people to cast blame upon and “clear” which keeps a mystery going. Also, the sheer size of a college allows for it to be difficult to catch this troublemaker as well, as Harriet discovers while chasing the troublemaker and as she attempts to patrol the grounds, looking for any suspicious activity. Also, creating a mystery in an academic setting, forces the detective to think psychologically about the situation since the culprit is usually an intelligent person (because it’s at a college). Harriet needs to put herself in the culprit’s frame of mind and figure out her motives.
At the same time underlying this mystery, is the mystery of the aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey. He is frequently spoken of in the novel but has yet to appear in character. Why? This man hopes to marry Harriet, but she doesn’t want to and gives no explanation for refusing. It’s customary for women to marry in these days and a bit shameful if they don’t, so why doesn’t she? To maintain her independence? To not be in competition with her husband’s fame?
Although this book is classified as academic mystery, there are several romantic elements intertwined in the story. In fact, currently, the main character Miss (Harriet) Vane has two male suitors pursuing her. One is Mr. Pomfret who is ten years younger than Miss Vane. He claims that “he loved her, he adored her, he was intensely miserable, he could neither work nor play games for thinking of her, if she refused him he didn’t know what he should do with himself…” (248) This excessive “love” that Mr. Pomfret shows is interesting since they haven’t known each other very long and Miss Vane is definitely not looking for love. She is an intellectual and usually shies from discussions about marriage. During this time period, a woman’s place was in the home and standing by her husband. Many even “took the view that any husband was better than none at all” (231).
However, Miss Vane on the other hand does not share this view and wants to remain independent. Every couple of months she rejects the marriage proposal of the famous detective Peter Wimsey. They share the same line of work (they both like mystery; she writes it and he lives it), so Miss Vane won’t be sacrificing much or changing her ways for him, but still she refuses to get married. Perhaps this will be developed more as the story goes on.
It puzzles me as to why there are so many non-mystery elements present in the story, as opposed to academic mystery elements. Perhaps Sayers devotes some of her book to these non-mystery elements because it gives the reader historical background and enables us to get a sense of what living during a certain time period was like. Plus, the genre is “academic” so perhaps such novels as this are meant to teach the reader while engaging in a mystery. I am learning a great deal about the differences between the mindsets of women regarding education and the job a women chooses to fulfill. Also, the apparent “love stories” in the novel engage the reader more because it helps relate the story to real life. But perhaps this only pertains to early written academic mystery books. I’ll be sure to compare these aspects when reading academic mysteries written in later years.
Back to the mystery component…the case just turned serious. A promising school girl by the name of Miss Newlands, who has the prospect of being a First (one of the top students), has been persuaded by this vicious Poltergeist to commit suicide. This mystery woman bombarded the shy, studious girl with offensive threatening messages, the last of which were “In your place I should throw myself out of a window” and “try the river” (257), enough to make anybody depressed and scared. She attempts the latter, but fortunately the dons (female teachers) are able to rescue her before she drowns herself. Although reluctantly, the Warden and Dean finally decide to bring in others to help with the case. It has gotten too serious and the crimes are worsening. This leads me to think Peter Wimsey will come into the story—not just through Vane’s memory or through his letters. He should play a more significant role in the story by becoming involved in the action and putting his detective skills to work. Then I can truly evaluate his character as opposed to Miss Vane’s judgmental and self deceptive point of view.
I knew Lord Peter Wimsey would eventually enter the story and sure enough he does. Sayers discussed him a great deal so it is only appropriate to include him in the text to compare him to Miss Vane’s description of him, perhaps to learn more about Miss Vane herself since she refuses to marry him. He shows up unexpectedly, immediately following the “the storm…[which involved] the swish and rush of falling water, the gurgle of overflowing gutters, and peace” (279). I have yet to decide whether this choice of setting is used for foreboding purposes or to suggest a rebirth and future cleansing, at least for the mystery, sign there’s rain involved. Either way, I think it signifies that the case will be solved soon because obviously the story needs to end (hopefully with an end to the case, since this is the story’s focus) and because like in this metaphor, there will be “peace” after all of this mayhem and accusation. Detective Wimsey’s arrival only confirms this speculation.
Now since the college has finally abandoned its philosophy of “presenting a serene façade to the world” (201) during this time of crisis, the reader and Wimsey alike, expect that he is here solely to work on the case. However, it seems that Sayers may have brought him into the story for a different reason as well because Miss Vane is slowly learning a great deal more about him. They’ve known each other for a while now, but she is only just learning the basics about him, like his job and connection to Oxford. She thinks “she had not known [about Wimsey having a First in history]. She had not even troubled to wonder. She had never consciously connected Wimsey and Oxford in her mind. This was the Foreign Office business all over again…she saw herself as a monster of callous ingratitude” (284). The reader discovers Miss Vane’s disgust with herself for never inquiring about Wimsey, especially when he helped her so much. This leads me to believe that she is going to perhaps evaluate her reasons for not marrying him since she is learning more things about him, that she perhaps likes. At this rate, as they solve the mystery together, Miss Vane will most likely continue to learn more about Wimsey and like him enough to marry him.
With respect to the mystery, I’ve hit another lull. There has been no break in the case, with little more disturbances. However, now with Wimsey’s presence, that will most likely change, but I don’t understand why this would happen, if the culprit is one of the S.C.R members (Senior Common Room members—graduates of Shrewsbury like Miss Vane, who I guess to be in her 30s). Wouldn’t they be smart enough to know not to cause any mayhem when a famous detective is around? At this point in the story, I don’t understand how it could be one of them. They seem so suspicious of one another and it doesn’t make sense why they’d continue to cause disturbances when they know people, like Miss Vane, are attempting to find the culprit.
One interesting observation made was that “it struck her [Miss Vane] as strange that it should be the same thing” (291). The “it” refers to Peter Wimsey’s gown, customary attire at the college. Here Miss Vane noticed that both she and Wimsey have the same size gown. This is odd and probably will have some significance later. Now I’m beginning to suspect Wimsey, but this doesn’t make sense, since he’s been gone. Its lines like this, that occur immediately before a shift in the text, that prolong the mystery’s suspense.
Wow, you've done a lot. I didn't realize you were leaving your comments here. Whoops, sorry!
Anyhow, this book sounds interesting, and you've made a lot of good observations as to what elements could possibly make up the genre of academic mystery, and also the possible allure of having an academic setting. You also did a very good job noticing the other elements of the story- symbols, foreshadowing, etc.
I agree with your idea that authors may purposefully choose to place a mystery in an academic setting, because it allows for many possibilities, in terms of who could be causing the trouble, and that it makes the mystery more challenging, because whoever is guilty must be someone of intelligence.
When you were talking about this, it actually reminded me of the Harry Potter books. Though it falls under the genre of fantasy, it usually involves a mystery, and it mostly takes place at the school of Hogwarts.
I wonder if Harry Potter can be accurately considered an academic mystery, or if it is missing an element that would qualify it to be one.
You're absolutely right Jess! The book is like Harry Potter in that respect. (I can't believe I didn't make the connection since I love HP so much!) So far from what I've gathered, it seems to me that some of the books of the Harry Potter series could be considered academic mystery since they include a mystery in an academic setting--even though this academic setting is fanatical. In the first book, it was difficult to find the person who was helping Voldemort, just like in the second in which everybody is looking for the person who opened the Chamber of Secrets. Similar to this novel, Gaudy Night, it was difficult to deduce who these culprits were since the school was so large and there were so many possible suspects.
Ok alisha....
I keep thinking about your question.... and then i realized what it was that was confusing me...
When I think academic mystery... I see the word academic as almost "literary", like a step above... and more well refined/intelligent...
Because after reading your commments and you tellign me that you were reading Alieniest too... I don't think that it just means that it has an academic, as in school background. Becuase the Alienist is a straight-up murder mystery with no schools in it at all.
So I don't know.. but just contributing my thoughts....
What did Ms. Clapp say when she told you??!!
Alrighty ....
Toodles.
Well the definition I created so far (for academic mystery) is what I've collected about the genre--characteristics I've found in Gaudy Night that could classify it as academic mystery. I'm not sure about the literary element, but I'll look into it. I need to read on and start comparing books to determine what the true definition is and why it is used.
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