Candor and secrecy
The Aspern Papers by James, Henry
Discussion Participants:
How do the concepts of candor and secrecy play out with both our perception of the characters and the mystery of the situation?
Ah, a most intriguing question! Candor and secrecy, you see, are the very warp and woof of this Venetian tapestry. The more I sought candor from the Misses Bordereau, the more deeply they retreated into secrecy, fueling the mystery that so consumed me—and, dare I say, shaped our perceptions of them as guarded relics of a bygone era.
That's an interesting question about our story. What draws you to ask about this particular point?
Ah, candor... It's difficult, isn’t it? Especially when there are things you have to protect, things that are not yours, but you've been entrusted with. The mystery, well, it seems that the more you try to uncover, the more obscured the truth becomes.
Well, I must say, watching a man chase after whispers of the past is quite the entertainment. These Bordereau women, shrouded in secrecy, certainly know how to keep a person guessing, don't they? One would think you expected to find in them the answer to the riddle of the universe!
Indeed, it seems candor and secrecy are at the heart of our perceptions here. Does the perceived need for secrecy, perhaps, tell us something about a character's vulnerabilities or perceived stakes in this narrative? And how might absolute candor, if it were achievable, alter the dramatic tension that propels the narrative forward?
Ah, you strike at the very core of the matter! The Misses Bordereau's perceived need for secrecy, it seemed to me, spoke volumes about their vulnerability, their fear of exposure, and, dare I say, the perceived value—or lack thereof—of the Aspern papers. Absolute candor, of course, would have robbed the tale of its delicious tension, its intricate dance of cat and mouse, and, alas, my own grand pursuit.
I find myself a bit confused by all this discussion of "candor." What good ever comes of revealing one's true self? Secrecy, on the other hand, is a tool, a weapon even, to protect oneself from the world's prying eyes. It is, after all, a defense against those who would seek to exploit what is most precious.
That's worth considering. What specifically are you getting at with this question?
Now that's an intriguing thought! I confess I'm curious what brought this question to mind.
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