Examine the theme of loneliness and isolation in M.R James’ stories
In the early 20th Century, the Edwardian era was coming to an end, but the wealth and affluence of the upper classes still remained. With very little contact with the outside world, the rich became complacent and arrogant. Political tension was increasing in Europe, but the well-off took little notice, concerned exclusively in their own affairs. With plenty of time on their hands, people could indulge in the study of science, or spend long periods of time shut up in antiquarian libraries, devoted to furthering their intellectual prowess and pride and becoming self reliant. When not in the library, they had the time to go off on private walks, do independent field research, or any other solitary pursuit, as their pride meant that they did not need anyone for guidance. The affluent were slowly becoming less religious, as their new found passion for science led them to rationalise everything and deny spiritual existence, and their prosperity meant that there was little to look forward to in the afterlife. This also meant that certain people no longer had God to turn to, further isolating themselves. The effect of these changes in society was that scholarly men would spend long hours in loneliness and isolation, and this fact is what M.R. James utilizes to great effect in many of his stories, not only to make the ordinary upstanding members of society become more vulnerable and susceptible to the horrors of the supernatural, but also to absorb the reader into the main characters life, making the supernatural experiences far more shocking.
In “Mr Humphreys and his Inheritance” the main character who spends time in isolation is Mr Humphreys, and unfortunately for him, the key feature which attracts him to the house left by his uncle is its library. “He felt that Wilsthorpe was a place in which he could be happy, and especially happy, it might be, in its library.” It is unfortunate, because predictably, the library, a place to be alone, is also where the only supernatural encounter in the story occurs. M.R James often uses libraries in his stories as they are the perfect setting for supernatural encounters: scholars would spend long periods of time alone in old libraries studying forgotten books, which may themselves hold information about dark matters or contain antiquarian documents, which are not meant to be removed. Often in silent contemplation, detached from the outside world, they could lose themselves in quiet seclusion. This is exactly the situation Mr Humpreys is in when in the library, tracing the map of the maze. Lonely and vulnerable, any sound or movement becomes exaggerated and out of proportion. “Once or twice it was a question whether there was—not a bat, but something more considerable—that had a mind to join him.” M.R James makes the reader very aware that Mr Humphreys is alone and isolated; and particularly exposed to any evil that could come through that window. His isolation heightens the sense of tension, as the reader is completely conscious of how susceptible he is, by himself, with no one to observe whatever unpleasant incident may occur and no one to help him. In addition, because he is alone, the storyline, and therefore the reader, focuses exclusively on Mr Humphreys, and how he reacts to each individual situation. This means that when the supernatural event finally occurs, there are no other characters to distract the reader’s attention from the action as it unfolds, and the reader experiences a similar emotional reaction to Mr Humphreys. This combination of putting the main character in a setting where he is isolated, and telling the story like a realistic account, progressively increasing the reader’s sense of fear, means that not only is there an elevated level of anticipation before the event, but also that the incident itself is far more shocking.
