While the topics discussed in this week’s post were significantly more varied than last week’s, there were several themes that recurred in a number of posts. The first of these was Carwin’s responsibility for the voices that have been heard throughout the novel. While the latest reading mostly proves Carwin’s responsibility, I think we should discuss this issue in class. Paige posted that she believes Carwin was behind the voices, but said she couldn’t find any motive for him to torment the Wieland family. Allen also thinks that Carwin was responsible, but thinks that Brown was just trying to confuse his readers to make the ending all the more unexpected. On the other hand, Kevin posted that he believed that Pleyel was behind the “guardian angel voices”, and Matt proposes that several instances in which light came into play question the absence of some supernatural power. While we can’t really argue about whether or not Carwin was responsible, we can question his motives and question the extent to which he is telling the truth.

Another major topic discussed in the posts is the question of why Wieland listened to the mysterious voice and carried out its command. Sarah raised the point that this reaction went againt Wieland’s established rationality. Even though he was devout in his faith, it seems that his reason would have stood in the way of such blind obedience. Tomas and Paige also questioned why Wieland would listen to the voice.

David raised an interesting point that largely turned out to be true in the last reading. He said that the “guardian angel” was actually an attempt by Carwin to prevent Clara from discovering him rather than to protect her.

Other things that were discussed, but that don’t fit into the “main themes” identified above:

-Jenny Jan again raised the issue of a fall from grace, but turned the accusation of falling from grace on the Wieland men rather than Clara.

-Allen thinks that ventriloquism was a cheap trick on Brockden Brown’s part.

-Bruce Wayne stated that the book went against his conceptions of the era during which it took place.

-Roman discussed the role of Satan in the novel, and stated that the character that represents Satan changed as the story progressed.

-Yu raised the possibility that Clara’s love was unrequited

-Morgan Parks discussed Carwin’s possible love for Clara.