Discussion topics: What are Schama's goals in writing this section of Dead Certainties and how well does he achieve them?
Suggestions:
-meaning of "a poor savage Indian," p. 74?
-how does the chapter help our understanding of America c. 1850? (correspondence); of the City on A Hill (theory of "had they fallen then, the Elect?", p. 83)
-how is Briggs contrasted to the Boston of Marshall Tukey (who was?)?
-what path viz. capital punishment has Briggs already begun to follow?
-what credence should be given to confessions such as that on p. 81?
-"Yes, yes, folly and lies, fairy tales and fables. But where lay the truth, the real history of George Parkman and John White Webster? p. 81
-problems facing Briggs?: defence not clear; confession "could not be wholly credited," p. 81; Weeks' confession,
-how convincing is Schama's use of Briggs's voice throughout the chapter (esp. p. 83-85). How can we be sure that Briggs knew all the Parkmans let being certain that "He thought of the Parmans in particular and their pilgrimages and progresses," p. 85.
-Perhaps Schama is really commenting on his view that virtue & the social order of the 1840s was collapsing in the 1840s as men persued the almighty dollar? "Pecunia radix omnium malorum est," p. 86, money is the root of all evil, from the mind of a man whose education was "three years in a hatter's shop?", p. 82.
-Chapter ends with a bitter reflection on the Mexican War (Briggs was opposed?), disillusionment with politics? Theme: Once convicted, nothing could save John White Webster?
-narrator is the grocer- why?; In what ways is this chapter as much about madness as about murder? How is the 1813 European Tour of Dr. Parkman relevant? Who was Dr. Pinel?-- monomanie "What would such a person look like? A bank clerk? A Preacher? A doctor? A professor of Harvard College?," p. 107.
-impression of Dr. George Parkman? fast walk up grove street at 10 to 2?
-why the story about Audubon and the Golden Eagle? 1834, p. 95.
-Shaw & Spiritualist seances?, p. 114
-why would the next chapter focus on Ephriam Littlefield?
-first from the perspective and the mind of Francis Tukey (who was?) & then from Littlefield's perspective (source?)
-how did Littlefield get on with Webster? How did he make his living?
-what is the intent of the account of Webster's dispute with Littlefield & Webster's inquiries about the vault?
-role of the $3,000 reward? The $483 mortgage? The turkey? (what are the source(s) for this chapter?)
how does Schama handle the issue of class with Tukey and with Littlefield? "how will [Webster] regard me who have been his menial all these years?", p. 138.:
On the steps there was a big crowd, policemen and others... In their midst was Mr. Clapp holding up Dr. Webster, for he looked half-dead and half-crazed, like I had never seen him before. ..., p. 138.
-where does this chapter title come from? "the other face of Yankeedom"?, p. 139. (Webster born in 1793; Parkman in 1790?)
-interesting switch in perspective-- from whose perspective is this chapter written? The historian's? Thus clinical, creditable, and damning?
-madness?: "Meaningful pebbles clicked in his palms...," p. 146, is reminiscent of what movie?
-role of Azorian wife Harriet? "She would be off-island at last, rescued from social shipwreck, given the setting her own qualities surely called for," p. 146. House on Concord Street? Life Style? Cost? Retrenchment?, p. 150.
-technique of turning to speaking from the mind of George Parkman when trying to establish a pattern of hopeless irresponsibility on the part of Webster (geologic specimen collection espisode, pp. 151-152).
-is Webster's concern about his family an admission of guilt, p. 163?
- source of dialogue? Concern about the "whole body" and "The villain, I am a ruined man.", p. 164.
- further indications of madness? p. 167: "Dr. Gay had only seen before in McLean asylum."
for additional notes on this reading assignment, click here.
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