In our discussions on Charles Brockton Brown’s work Wieland, we discussed some themes of the book. Among these are social conventions, love, sexuality, trust, betrayal and reason. I think all of these themes are depicted very well in the scene where Pleyel accuses Clara of being with Carwin.
Pleyel’s character is portrayed to be more of an empiricist, a man who relies on the powers of reason. On page 23, of Wieland, Clara describes Pleyel as ‘the champion of intellectual liberty… (one that) rejected all guidance but that of his reason.’ Clara’s depiction of Pleyel painted a portrait of a smart, intellectually savvy and stable man that relied on judgments and reasons. The scene where Pleyel accuses Clara, however, paints a much different portrait of his character.
Pleyel accuses Clara of being with Carwin in a manner that is much different than what we had been reading and known about him thus far. The words he uses on page 96, ‘atrocious’, ‘wretch’ and ‘thief’ to associate her with thieves and prostitutes. The punctuation that Brown uses helps the reader depict the tone and emotions that Pleyel is expressing. He pauses, “…of they act—what end can it” (96) and uses exclamation points, “insupportable disgrace!”(96) and “profligate of women!”(96), to express Pleyel’s emotions towards the subject matter.
An important note in this scene is that Pleyel never asks for her reasons or for her side of the story. We spoke a lot about the social conventions at this time and for women, how important your credibility was. Credibility of women was judged, in part, by their sexual well being. Clara betrayed Pleyel, in his mind at least. Because of her presumed sexuality her reputation has been discredited. He doesn’t ask for her side because whatever she was to say doesn’t mean anything and wouldn’t be believed if it did.
This scene is also very important in the sense that Pleyel doesn’t accuse her in a manner that is rational, like his character should. He lets his emotions over take him, almost as if he is acting out ‘in the heat of the moment.’ The punctuation used by Brown and the lack of letting Clara explain herself, completely contradict the image of Pleyel that Clara had originally painted in the beginning of the story. The themes are greatly depicted here: the social conventions of the time, the impacts of love, trust and betrayal, what a woman’s sexuality meant, and what reason is and how it can be manipulate my the mind.
I also agree with you and believe that Pleyel’s accusations against Clara were made without concrete evidence. I found it interesting that they both have seen each other grow into the people they are now, yet Pleyel could not see past his assumptions he made of Clara. As you stated Clara described Pleyel as someone who she admired. He was the “champion of intellectual liberty” (Brown 30). At the same time Pleyel discusses his previous thoughts about Clara claiming that she was a woman with no imperfections, and a woman with beauty, intelligence, principle and discernment. The reason Pleyel can create these views is because he has known her for so long and he knows the type of person she has become. With this being said Pleyel’s allegations of Clara and Carwin are not reasonable and as you stated, are unlike him.
ReplyDeleteI also think you mentioned a very important point about Clara losing her credibility. I feel like after this unfortunate event with Pleyel, Clara’s image as a woman was damaged. This image of women is presented in chapter 12 when Pleyel states: “I thought you accomplished and wise beyond the rest of women…Your education could not be without influence” (Brown 114). Later Pleyel basically calls out Clara’s sexual image when he proclaims, “If she that possesses so much in the bloom of youth will go on accumulating her stores, what is the picture she will display at a mature age?” (121). Just as you had mentioned, Clara’s presumed sexuality as led her to be discredited by the one man she thought she loved.