Memoirs of a Midget · Chapter
XXXIV explained
Miss M.
What happens
Miss M. continues her life at Mrs. Monnerie's, enduring the condescension of Percy Maudlen and the scrutiny of her patroness. She accompanies Mrs. Monnerie on outings to gardens, museums, and even Madame Tussaud's, all while grappling with her own sense of otherness and a growing hunger for knowledge. A visit to the theatre with the Monnerie party reveals Susan's secret blush at someone in the stalls, stirring complex emotions in Miss M.
Themes in this chapter
Otherness and Identity
Miss M. is acutely aware of her small stature and the way others perceive her, from Percy's 'toadlet' taunt to Mrs. Monnerie's experimental interest. She struggles to understand her own feelings and place in the world.
Performance and Being on Show
Miss M. is constantly on display, whether in the garden, at the theatre, or during private views. She is dressed to look like a child, and her responses are treated as curiosities by Mrs. Monnerie.
Solitude and Self-Discovery
Despite the constant company, Miss M. experiences moments of deep solitude, such as when she prays after her bath or wanders alone in the Chamber of Horrors. Her hunger for knowledge is a form of self-discovery.
Characters to notice
- Miss M.
The narrator, reflecting on her life at No. 2, her outings with Mrs. Monnerie, and her observations of Susan's blush at the theatre.
- Mrs. Monnerie
Miss M.'s patroness, who treats her as a 'fancier' would a curiosity, taking her to various entertainments and testing her mind and manners.
- Mr. Ambrose Pellew
Mentioned as Percy Maudlen; he accompanies the party in the garden, displaying disdain for Miss M. and later carrying Cherry.
- Susan Monnerie
Present at the theatre; her blush at someone in the stalls is observed by Miss M., prompting a moment of shared emotion.
- Fleming
The footman who carries Miss M. downstairs; later accompanies the party on outings, though their small talk is strained.
- Cherry
Mrs. Monnerie's dog, brought along on the garden walk and carried by Percy.
Key passages
“And where is the toadlet?”
Percy Maudlen asks about Miss M.'s whereabouts, using a demeaning nickname.
Highlights Percy's disdain and Miss M.'s objectification.
“I emptied all Mrs. Monnerie's priceless crystals forthwith into my bath, and vowed never, never again to desert plain water.”
After a moment of shame, Miss M. pours expensive bath crystals into the water and resolves to use only plain water in the future.
Shows Miss M.'s reaction to being observed and her desire for simplicity.
“I had begun to see that she was making experiments on my mind and senses, as well as on my manners and body. She was a 'fancier.'”
Miss M. realizes that Mrs. Monnerie treats her as a curiosity, testing her intellect and reactions.
Reveals Miss M.'s growing awareness of her role as an object of study.
“At sight of her blushing, a richer fondness for her lightened my mind.”
Seeing Susan blush, Miss M. feels a deeper affection for her.
Captures Miss M.'s emotional response to Susan's vulnerability.