Some books strike you at the core of your being. The Beast in the Jungle by Henry James is one of them. An interesting read. Yet it’s hard to tell where the story is going. The main characters obsession with his fear or dread about something momentous that is to take place in his life, seems monotonous at times. And the fact that he drags his female counterpart into it seems self absorbing to the limit.
By the middle of the story, aided by the author’s elusive narration, which can be quite befuddling, you begin to wonder whether the lady might herself have grown weary of the topic Yet she gives no sign of it.
As the reader you suspect there’s something deeper and far richer to be explored, and the protoganist’s blindness through the whole affair is exasperating. The brilliance of James’ narration is that, as a reader, he gives you an inkling of your suspicion as well, but never really satisfies your curiosity and resolves the conflict till the very end, making you wonder. Am I right about this? Am I as blind as the protaganist? Am I as consumed by my own expectations? It wasn’t a comfortable feeling.
How many times have I lost myself in my own obsessions without really paying attention to the people around me. It was a sobering thought to see myself reflected in the doubt and fear of the protagonist.
However before judging the character, we need to remember that we know nothing of his history. From the story we can infer that he led a passionless, aimless existence, never really giving himself over to something that would take him completely outside himself. What led him to be that way however we cannot tell. Maybe that was his nature. Nevertheless, even if it was his nature, he never seemed to question it. He spent nearly his whole existence waiting for a grand event that was to occur, never questioning it’s validity, but merely speculating what it could be. While the grandest event of his life was taking place right before his eyes.
Living life in anticipation of grand things or in fear of dreaded events is natural. But merely waiting as an observer without taking the necessary action to promote an event of your choosing, or actively working to steer away from a direction you do not want to go, leads to a passionless existence. Like the protagonist, it makes us blind to the value of action and volition to change our fate, to take risks alone or with someone who is willing to take that risk with you. To build something grand or avert a disaster that was never written in stone in the first place. The greatest tragedy is that if we don’t, we not only miss the opportunity to build something wonderful, and build it with the people who come into our lives and get to know them truly in the process, but that we miss the opportunity to get to know ourselves and what could have been.
A life spent in speculation and doubt is a life wasted. I’m still guilty of moment’s like these. That is why stories like The Beast in the Jungle are relevant and speak for all times. Because they remind us that, though there will always be fears to dread, there will also always be grand visions to fulfill. And fulfilling them is our responsibility.
If you haven’t read The Beast in the Jungle yet. I invite you to download it today. It’s a bittersweet story of possibilities and missed opportunities and if you see yourself in the protagonist, maybe it will prod you to take that chance on your grand vision.
Regards
Tyrone Pereira
Pereira Classics.