Those Barren Leaves · Chapter
XII explained
Miss Thriplow writes in her secret notebook about emotional impotence, the desire for primitive passion, and the concept of emotional snobbery.
What happens
Miss Thriplow writes in her secret notebook about emotional impotence, the desire for primitive passion, and the concept of emotional snobbery. She reflects on her own tendency to simulate profound feelings and her relationship with Calamy, whom she finds excitingly dangerous. The chapter explores her self-awareness of her emotional subnormality and her eagerness to experience intense emotions through her affair with Calamy.
Themes in this chapter
Emotional Snobbery
Miss Thriplow defines emotional snobbery as the simulation of profound feeling by those who lack natural capacity, and she recognizes this tendency in herself.
Authenticity vs. Performance
The chapter explores the paradox of the comedian in real life: the less one feels, the better one can represent feeling, and the self-deception involved in performing emotions for an inward gallery.
Desire and Self-Deception
Miss Thriplow's desire for intense emotions leads her to deceive herself about her feelings for Calamy, hoping for revelations of her own hidden soul.
Characters to notice
- Mary Thriplow
Writes in her secret notebook about emotional impotence, emotional snobbery, and her relationship with Calamy. She is self-aware of her own emotional subnormality and seeks intense experiences.
- Mr. Calamy
The object of Miss Thriplow's fascination; she finds him dangerous and exciting, and he has told her he could wring her neck.
- Mrs. Aldwinkle
Mentioned as someone who would describe Calamy as 'queer'.
Key passages
“There are people who seem to have no capacity for feeling deeply or passionately about anything. It is a kind of emotional impotence for which one can only pity them profoundly.”
Some people appear unable to experience deep or passionate emotions, a condition of emotional impotence that deserves pity.
Miss Thriplow's opening reflection in her notebook.
“The less you feel, the better you represent feeling. But while the comedian on the stage plays only for the audience in the theatre, those in real life perform as much for an inward as an outward gallery; they ask for applause also from themselves and, what is more, they get it; though always, I suppose, with certain secret reservations.”
Those who feel less can better simulate emotion, and in real life, people perform for both external observers and their own internal audience, often deceiving themselves with some hidden doubts.
Miss Thriplow's analysis of emotional snobbery and the paradox of the comedian.
“You exasperate me so much that I could wring your neck.”
You irritate me to the point that I feel like killing you.
Calamy's remark to Miss Thriplow, which she finds excitingly brutal.