Double first person narrative and writing about self in The Collector by Fowles

The use of the point of view, double first person narrator offers a profound insight into the minds of Miranda and Clegg, their interactions and also allows for the use of irony. John Fowles' novel The Collector uses the narrative device of double first person narrator to shape reader response regarding the relationship between the New People and the Few. The New People are represented by the butterfly collector Frederick Clegg, who is so ordinary he is 'extra-ordinary.' Clegg captures a specimen, Miranda, who represents the Few, the gifted in society, those who believe in the 'power of reason, and sympathy, and humanity.' 'The Collector' sends the message that ultimately, the two groups of society, the mass and the few, will never meet. The use of the point of view, double first person narrator offers a profound insight into the minds of Miranda and Clegg, their interactions and also allows for the use of irony. The use of first person narrator allows the reader to delve deeply into the psyche of the characters thereby allowing the reader to understand them more easily. This is intense relationship is built partly by the continual use of the words I, me and you (and more) which all create a feeling that the narrator is speaking to the reader. The reader comes to realize, because of the factors above, that Clegg is 'so ordinary he is extraordinary.' Clegg embodies all the minor flaws that we all carry in the one person. He thinks of himself 'and all humanity can go and stew for all I care.' This selfishness can be seen throughout the book in the manner by which he treats Miranda, 'she was mine' he comments when he captures her. He sees Miranda as a sort of toy, like a Tamagotchi that must be fed and washed to derive the most satisfaction for its owner. It also shows the way in which Clegg objectifies women. He also has a warped notion of love 'just a desperate imitation of what he thinks that the real things like' comments Miranda. He is emotionally and sexually crippled 'absolutely sexless,' even his hair is stiff and 'he would probably wear starched collars if he could.' The use of double first person narrator in The Collector allows for this intimacy between characters and the reader to develop and therefore the theme that the 'Few' will never mix with the many to become more apparent. Miranda's mind is also discovered the fact that she is a member of the superior 'Few' is realized. The reader can relate to Miranda as a human, one with exceptional qualities, even to the extent that she could be considered a perfect example of humanity. She contrasts in every way with Clegg, she has drive, she wants to learn, she has life, has desires to teach and to heal and is in touch with the inner world of the human condition. This drive and strength to live and learn is seen all the time she is in the 'killing bottle.' When Miranda arrives, she immediately sits down, sorts out for how long she will be staying as a 'guest' and what she will do. In the four weeks, she makes continual efforts to humanize Clegg, all to no avail. She tries every way possible, nevertheless, Clegg cannot see the beauty in art, and judges everything on its resemblance to 'real life' objects (perhaps the reason why he kidnaps Miranda, because she is the most real). This can be seen in the quote 'the one that was the best didnt even look like the fruit and it was all lopsided.' Miranda displays her power to accept that some things as they are 'the only real

person in my world is Caliban. It can't be understood, it just is.' These qualities that Miranda boasts all created in part by the use of first person narrator, work together to develop the theme that the 'Few' will not meet the many.

The diference between Miranda and Clegg is clearly displayed in Miranda's words; 'I hate the uneducated and the ignorant. I hate the pompous and the phony. I hate the jealous and the resentful. I hate the crabbed and the mean and petty. I hate all the ordinary little dull people who aren't ashamed of being dull and little. I hate what GP calls the New People with there cars and money and their tellies and their stupid vulgarities and there stupid crawling imitation of the bourgeoisie.' 'I love honesty and freedom and giving. I love making, I love doing, I love being to the full, I love everything which is not dead at heart.' Miranda then states the critical line of the novel ' It's a battle between Caliban and myself, he is the New People and I am the Few.' These quotes are all from the mouth of Miranda. They have a personnel quality about them that cannot be duplicated by the use of another point of view. This is mainly because of the heavy use of the word 'I.' This word is of the utmost intimacy, it tells the reader that what they are reading is directly form the mouth of the person that is in question. The double first person narrator offers a unique affinity between the reader and the characters that Fowles creates and thereby helps to make the divide between the 'Few' and the many more visible. Irony allows Fowles to say the opposite of what he thinks is the right. It is drawn on heavily by Fowles to develop reader response which ultimately means that we see Clegg as more and more 'extraordinary,' the opposite to Miranda. 'What I am trying to say that it all happened rather unexpected. I thought I was acting for the best and within rights.' This statement was made by Clegg after Miranda dies at the end of the second section. It is overflowing with irony; firstly Clegg was not acting for the best at all. Even though Clegg did not believe that Miranda's sickness was real for the first few days, even after it became obvious he did not seek help neither was he acting within his rights, the very act of kidnapping a human specimen and locking it up is not within anybody's rights. This quote shows the utter selfishness and inhumanity of Clegg for both the reasons above. Another ironic quote is 'Power corrupts and Money is Power.' This shows that while Clegg knows that money corrupts people, he does not think that he himself has been corrupted by his pools winnings, while the reader knows full well that he has been. The last is Cleggs' continual reference to Miranda as his guest. This is ironic because Miranda is not at his home by choice, but rather as a prisoner. All of these statements, as well as countless others all contribute to a heightened reader response that allows the theme of the novel to become more apparent. It would not be possible for the same element of irony to be in a novel written in a different point of view, mainly because it is not as intimate with the reader. The conflict between Clegg and Miranda is intensified in their respective beliefs related to choice and responsibility. Clegg believes in a mechanical determinism, bound by gender and social values, he firmly believes his life is determined by his place in society. Clegg's unfortunate upbringing, with the death of both father and uncle, raised him to believe that he has no real choices, "having her as my guest happened suddenly, it

wasn't something I planned. In fact his kidnapping of Miranda is the greatest responsibility he has ever taken, "I would like to see Crutchley organise what I organised last summer". Miranda on the other hand believes that you should not compromise with your background or be bound by your past, making choices to "cut of all the old you that gets in the way". While Clegg believes that his life is completely predetermined, "perhaps I was giving fate a chance to stop me", Miranda actively decides her own future. ! Also heavily ironic is the freedom/ no freedom contrast between Clegg and Miranda. Technically Miranda is caged, however, it may not be her that is less free. Clegg has a closed mind, he is not open to anyone else's opinions or ideas. This is shown in his inability to understand Miranda's love for art ' the one that was the best looked nothing like the fruit bowl and it was all lopsided'. It is one example. Another, probably more important is the debate about meaning in 'The catcher in the rye.' Clegg does not 'see the point in it' he thinks the Holden Caulfield is a mess and that he doesnt like the book because 'I don't like the way he talks.' This beastliness is in contrast with Miranda who while she is caged, is truly free. Miranda wants to learn 'I never knew before how much I wanted to live.' 'so much to learn' she says. These show Miranda's openness to the world and her ability to understand others and form opinions based upon her own morals. This irony that conventionally thinking, Clegg is freer than Miranda in every way yet is by far more mind- caged and therefore less free is a startling realization in the novel and one that would only be possible with the use of double first person narrator. In conclusion, John Fowles choice of double first person narrator helps to enhance reader response in his novel by helping the reader differentiate between the gifted 'Few' in society and the hoi poloiy, or the many. The point of view used enables Fowles to take full advantage of ironic comments through Clegg, as well as a 'reliable' voice through Miranda who speaks his opinions. The Collector says ultimately, the two groups of society, the mass and the few, will never meet. The few sees the many 'Like endless dreary rain. Colour-killing.' And the many simply cannot understand the 'Few'. The epitome of normal, represented by Clegg is selfish, sexless, cannot understand others and basically contains everything to make them ultimately inhumane. Miranda is open, free and intelligent, a perfect example of humanity. The use of double first person narrator allows the reader to understand this and is therefore pivotal in the formation of 'The Collector.'