Memoirs of a Midget · Chapter
XXI explained
The narrator writes to Fanny about delivering Mr.
What happens
The narrator writes to Fanny about delivering Mr. Crimble's message and urges her to respond to him. Fanny replies dismissively, criticizing the narrator's meddling and defending her own choices. The narrator struggles with self-doubt and feelings of worthlessness, but finds solace in nature and self-reflection at Wanderslore, ultimately regaining a sense of peace and purpose.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Self-Deception
The narrator struggles with self-deception about her role in Fanny and Mr. Crimble's relationship, and Fanny's letter exposes the narrator's own pretensions.
Solitude and Self-Discovery
The narrator finds peace and self-acceptance in the solitude of Wanderslore, reflecting on her worth and place in the world.
Nature and the Sublime
The narrator's walk through the woods and her time in the garden at Wanderslore evoke a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world.
Characters to notice
- Unknown (Narrator)
Writes to Fanny, reflects on her own worthlessness, and finds solace in nature at Wanderslore.
- Fanny Bowater
Replies to the narrator's letter, dismissive and critical, and refuses to write to Mr. Crimble.
- Mr. Crimble
Sends narcissuses to the narrator with a note of hope, having received a ray of hope from Fanny.
- Mrs. Bowater
Delivers Mr. Crimble's flowers to the narrator with a grimace, and arranges to meet the narrator under the beech tree.
- Midgetina
The narrator signs her letter to Fanny as Midgetina.
Key passages
“I have given Mr. Crimble your message; first, exactly in your own words, though he did not quite hear them, and then, leaving out a little.”
I delivered your message to Mr. Crimble, first verbatim (though he didn't catch it all), then with some omissions.
The narrator reports to Fanny on delivering her message to Mr. Crimble.
“I am tired—of overwork. I have finished Wuthering Heights. It is a mad, untrue book. The world is not like Emily Brontë's conception of it. It is neither dream nor nightmare, Midgetina, but wide, wide awake.”
I'm exhausted from overwork. I finished Wuthering Heights, which I find mad and untrue; the real world is neither dream nor nightmare but fully awake.
Fanny expresses her disdain for Wuthering Heights and her view of reality.
“I sat gazing at this thank-offering long after she had gone—the waxy wings, the crimson-rimmed corona, the pale-green cluster of pistil and stamen. The heavy perfume stole over my senses, bringing only weariness and self-distaste to my mind.”
I stared at the narcissuses after Mrs. Bowater left, their waxy petals and heavy scent filling me with weariness and self-disgust.
The narrator's reaction to Mr. Crimble's floral gift reflects her inner turmoil.
“What was wrong with me just then, what I had sallied out in hope to be delivered from, was the unhappy conviction that my life was worthless, and I of no use in the world.”
What troubled me as I set out was the painful belief that my life had no value and I was useless.
The narrator confesses her deep sense of worthlessness.
“I have noticed that as soon as I begin to laugh at myself, the whole world seems to smile in return.”
I've observed that when I laugh at myself, the world seems to smile back.
The narrator finds that self-deprecating humor brings a positive shift in perspective.
