Questions for "The Beast in the Jungle" Discussion, Monday, November 24th

Interpretive Questions

If you were asked to describe the relationship between John Marcher and May Bartram, and were limited to one word or a short phrase, what would that word or phrase be?

Could John have had a normal life if he had not met Meg again after an interval of ten years? (John could not remember a lot of details of their first meeting -- it was May who reminded John of the "secret" he confided in her).

Had John, in his own mind at least, had a meaningful life with May (p. 192, top of page, "The state of mind ...")?

The description of John's life is deliberately vague -- government job, some friends, work in his garden. May's life is somewhat more significant in its details: a relation who must have engendered some affection as "the old Lady" arranged in her will to provide for her so that she could have some financial independence. Has James done this deliberately?

What are May's initial intentions toward John? Have they changed by the end of the story?

The relationship between May and John is devoid of any physical intimacy. Is this a relationship that one or the other wants to make "sterile" or feels must remain so? Is the author trying to say something about this state?

When did May perceive that she knew what John's "beast" was? Was her perception correct?

Can you define that "beast" (p. 196, 2d paragraph and p. 197, line 4 -- "the man to whom nothing on earth was to happen"). Could John have changed that? Could he have done so because of or in spite of May's help?

Read the description of May during John's second-to-last visit before she died (p. 176). By her appearance and the almost stage-like setting of her house what is she meant to symbolize?

Is this a story written in hyperbole to demonstrate the neurotic relationships between two people? A passionate love story encased in refined prose?