Before lecture
It took me a while, about a quarter-way into the book, to realise Sarah Waters was also the author of Fingersmith. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t read it, but I did see the mini-series drama based on the book and loved it. The story was dark but intriguing, the characters complex and flawed, not always likeable but they felt real.
The Little Stranger has a similar style, and I loved it. Once I started reading I was obsessed and definitely plan to buy more of Sarah Waters’ books as a result.
Dr. Faraday, a man we never learn the first name of, is an interesting character but not a very imposing one. At first he seems to be an outsider only there to witness the events of Hundreds Hall and the Ayres family. Yet straight away we are told his mother used to work for the family, and he once snuck in and stole a piece of paster shaped like an acorn, claiming a part of the house for himself. He carries a clear underlining resentment for how he struggled to gain his position and what his parents had to sacrifice to do it. He also seems to take the diminishing state of Hundreds Hall as a personal insult, and the family’s lack of appreciation for the people who’ve worked there.
I don’t know if it was because of his strange attitude or if it’s because I knew our class topic was the unreliable narrator when assigned to read it, but I started to seriously suspect him in the scene where he’s alone with Mrs. Ayres near the pond and her scratch marks start to appear. Before that I did wonder about Roderick’s decline once Dr. Faraday began visiting but was sceptical when he blatantly discouraged the ghost/deadly house theory they began to develop, as this would have helped keep him from suspicion.
With Mrs. Ayres he seemed too eager to have her committed, out of the way and kept pressing Caroline about their marriage despite the appalling timing. There’s several times he tries to pin the blame on Betty, perhaps hoping the family will dismiss her and he will gain more leverage over them as their one constant companion.
I am convinced he caused Caroline’s death. His conversation with Dr. Seely on poltergeists and people with suppressed emotions able to project themselves to other places fits too well. While sleeping at the pond he projected to Caroline and chased her. Whether he pushed her off I’m not sure, but the way she fell does suggest she was forced off. Whether he caused the downfall of Mrs. Ayres and Roderick I’m not as sure, but would love to reread it at some point to look for hints.
After lecture
After our class discussion on unreliable narrators I can see how Dr. Faraday caused the downfall of Roderick and Mrs. Ayres too. However, it wasn’t done consciously. Dr. Faraday’s suppressed resentment towards the family manifests with poltergeist abilities and astral projection. When the dog bites the girl and Roderick is seeing the moving objects/mirror, Dr. Faraday is being humiliated by the other guests when they question why someone of his class is at the party. After the girl is hurt he becomes the hero who comes to her rescue, and all the guest are in awe.
Subconsciously Dr. Faraday causes the downfall of the family. When Caroline changes her mind about marrying him, he kills her, and visits the unsold house, doing repairs, acting like it’s finally his. It’s clear he never really wanted Caroline he just wanted to be master of Hundreds Hall and to rise above his class.
Scribbled Thoughts 