Shannon Costello

I avoid serious literature when sick, but this time I coached myself through it with frequent Harry Potter breaks.

No Name was criticized because one character, Magdalen, instead of being properly punished for her wickedness, is allowed to repent and live happily ever after.  Magdalen’s deceit and schemes cause righteous persons to shrink from her.  While I enjoyed the Harry Potter stories, the contrast in the value the two authors place on truth in difficult situations is profound.  Harry lies whenever he feels it is necessary and in the long run is never questioned about that.  For him it is an acceptable means to an end.  Magdalen repents well after she has failed to achieve her ends and it is her sister, responding to difficulties without compromising herself, who earns the reward Magdalen sought.  Magdalen’s own happily ever after comes only after she tells the full truth about her past.   Wow….

No Name is unlike The Moonstone and The Woman in White in that Wilkie Collins’ goal is not to keep secrets, but to foreshadow and then to  “arouse the reader’s interest in following the chain of circumstances by which these foreseen events are brought about.”    Just as he admirably achieved his goal in The Moonstone of exploring the effects of character on plot, so he succeeds here- that impresseses me that he can set such objectives and fulfill them.  I kept asking myself how on earth I could be feeling so much suspense when I knew (aided by the introductory essay, even) what was going to happen.

Various factors contributed to the suspense for me.  The plot was too complicated for me to predict accurately.  The plot twist in which the antagonist has something vital belonging to the protagonist appears in this novel and, as always, drives me nuts.  I also was wild to know what themes the author would settle on- would he justify the revenge or champion integrity?  I had to stop and read Harry Potter for awhile because I couldn’t take the suspense anymore.  Wilkie Collins fairly bludgeons the reader with speculations and questions about what will happen in a way that seems too obvious.  But instead of feeling like I’m being talked down to I find myself admiring his craft.