“Lost Hearts” is a story written by M.R. James. This story begins with an orphan, Stephen; heading to his cousin’s house in Lincolnshire. His cousin, Mr. Abney, was well known because of his studies in ancient pagan religions. Once Stephen is settled he gets to meet a sweet lady who has been working in the house for many years. Is important to remark that Mr. Abney was very interested about Stephen’s age, since the beginning he was eager to know. This questioning foreshadows that there is an interest, beyond helping, in Mr. Abney towards Stephen and the fact that he is a kid. The lady Stephen meets is Mrs. Bunch, who tells him about other kids who stayed at the house just like him. These kids disappeared mysteriously; element that settles an environment of suspense in the story. Following this odd event, Stephen dreams that he finds in a bathroom close to his room a corpse with its hands placed where its heart should be. From this point on he makes subtle connections between his dream and the girl who supposedly ran away. That same day, Mr. Abney tells Stephen that they have to meet secretly at night in his office. When Stephen is on his way to meet him, he sees out of the window two ghost-like figures in the garden that belong to the kids who lived there. Stephen then hurries into the office to find out that Mr. Abney was dead. By searching in his papers, he realizes that Mr. Abney killed the kids and burned their hearts in order to drink it and getting to be immortal. “Lost Hearts” is special because M.R. James maintains the reader believing that Stephen is in danger. From both sides the reader believes that he is being threatened. On one side, he dreams of one of the ghosts and he gets his nightgown shredded which may signal that they can actually easily harm him. On the other side, the reader do not trust Mr. Abney because of his suspicious behavior and his invitation and the urge of keeping it a secret. Once the author has set this environment of suspense, he changes everything by showing the ghost kids as Stephen’s guardians and killing Mr. Abney who also was supposed to be dangerous. In addition, all the details that are marked throughout the reading make perfect sense and give the story a sense of cohesion. For example, the pattern of events related to the heart, such as the corpse holding his heart and clothing getting ripped at a specific place. Even when the reader may not understand at the beginning, once you go back everything makes sense.
What is more terrifying than a ghost? The ghost of a child!! This is one of my favorites so far. The ghosts´ description is so detailed that it really makes you hear their scaring moans. Although is obvious that something is wrong with Mr. Abney, the denouement of the story is creative and spooky.
I agree with Wendy's comment about how the author keeps the reader on the edge of his seat, through the dream but also by not trusting Mr. Abney. I definitely would not trust the guy... Also, I agree with Rukmini and her comment about SCARY GOTHIC children. The Gothic has always LOVED incorporating very spooky kids into its tales.
More than guardians, I think that the ghosts are actually Stephen's saviors because Stephen was very naive. He never realized Mr. Abney's true intentions. If the ghosts had not killed Mr. Abney, Stephen had been part of the immortality ingredients.
I like the way the author maintains the suspense and also the intrigue about what is the real intention of Mr. Abney with Stephen. When the author points out the disappearance of the other two children, the reader suspected that something unusual is happening there. Also, With the apparition of the ghost kids things start to have sense and the reader begins to tie ends. I really like this story and I think it is one of my favorites because of the plot.
“Lost Hearts” is a story written by M.R. James. This story begins with an orphan, Stephen; heading to his cousin’s house in Lincolnshire. His cousin, Mr. Abney, was well known because of his studies in ancient pagan religions. Once Stephen is settled he gets to meet a sweet lady who has been working in the house for many years. Is important to remark that Mr. Abney was very interested about Stephen’s age, since the beginning he was eager to know. This questioning foreshadows that there is an interest, beyond helping, in Mr. Abney towards Stephen and the fact that he is a kid. The lady Stephen meets is Mrs. Bunch, who tells him about other kids who stayed at the house just like him. These kids disappeared mysteriously; element that settles an environment of suspense in the story. Following this odd event, Stephen dreams that he finds in a bathroom close to his room a corpse with its hands placed where its heart should be. From this point on he makes subtle connections between his dream and the girl who supposedly ran away. That same day, Mr. Abney tells Stephen that they have to meet secretly at night in his office. When Stephen is on his way to meet him, he sees out of the window two ghost-like figures in the garden that belong to the kids who lived there. Stephen then hurries into the office to find out that Mr. Abney was dead. By searching in his papers, he realizes that Mr. Abney killed the kids and burned their hearts in order to drink it and getting to be immortal. “Lost Hearts” is special because M.R. James maintains the reader believing that Stephen is in danger. From both sides the reader believes that he is being threatened. On one side, he dreams of one of the ghosts and he gets his nightgown shredded which may signal that they can actually easily harm him. On the other side, the reader do not trust Mr. Abney because of his suspicious behavior and his invitation and the urge of keeping it a secret. Once the author has set this environment of suspense, he changes everything by showing the ghost kids as Stephen’s guardians and killing Mr. Abney who also was supposed to be dangerous. In addition, all the details that are marked throughout the reading make perfect sense and give the story a sense of cohesion. For example, the pattern of events related to the heart, such as the corpse holding his heart and clothing getting ripped at a specific place. Even when the reader may not understand at the beginning, once you go back everything makes sense.
ReplyDeleteWhat is more terrifying than a ghost? The ghost of a child!!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorites so far. The ghosts´ description is so detailed that it really makes you hear their scaring moans. Although is obvious that something is wrong with Mr. Abney, the denouement of the story is creative and spooky.
I agree with Wendy's comment about how the author keeps the reader on the edge of his seat, through the dream but also by not trusting Mr. Abney. I definitely would not trust the guy... Also, I agree with Rukmini and her comment about SCARY GOTHIC children. The Gothic has always LOVED incorporating very spooky kids into its tales.
ReplyDeleteMore than guardians, I think that the ghosts are actually Stephen's saviors because Stephen was very naive. He never realized Mr. Abney's true intentions. If the ghosts had not killed Mr. Abney, Stephen had been part of the immortality ingredients.
ReplyDeleteI like the way the author maintains the suspense and also the intrigue about what is the real intention of Mr. Abney with Stephen. When the author points out the disappearance of the other two children, the reader suspected that something unusual is happening there. Also, With the apparition of the ghost kids things start to have sense and the reader begins to tie ends. I really like this story and I think it is one of my favorites because of the plot.
ReplyDelete