Questions to Consider: “A Whisper in the Dark”
For this reading, I won’t include many reading notes. I’ll include some quotes and questions to think about during and after reading.
Sybil, just 17, introduces us to her uncle. He’s handsome and polished, but there’s something stern about him. In him, she sees an expression that “comes to those who have led lives of pleasure and learned their emptiness.”
Sybil is curious about the cousin she’s going to marry, Guy. Her uncle is reluctant to reveal any details. In their exchange, the uncle says, “You came here for your own pleasure, but shall stay for mine, till I tame you as I see you must be tamed.” What do you make of this interaction?
Sybil finally meets Guy, who seems pleased with his future wife. Sybil is also surprised, and she contrasts Guy’s greeting with her uncle’s manner. Guy asks if she’d like to invite some people over, and she declines, referencing the fact that she likes freedom. Later, Guy tells her that the way to win her uncle’s affections is through “obedience.” We see a few references to freedom and obedience in this conversation.
Sybil and Guy talk about Sybil’s need to marry, which leads to a discussion about Guy’s mother and father. What do you think of these relationships? What is Sybil’s intention with these conversations?
Imprisonment and confinement are significant themes in gothic literature. Consider Alcott’s depiction of isolation and imprisonment in this story. How does Sybil respond to her loss of freedom?
How does Sybil feel when she learns about her mother? Do you think Sybil sees herself in her mother, or something else?
Sybil and her uncle are both figures who don’t like to be crossed. They are both used to getting what they want. How does this story obscure and/or emphasize the gender roles at play in this dynamic?
How is Guy similar to his father? Does this change by the end of the story?
Is Sybil’s reunion with Guy happy? What do you notice about it?
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