Old Books, New Readers discussion

Hello everyone,

I'm looking forward to being your moderator for Daphne du Maurier's Jamaica Inn

***schedule***

October 5-11: Chapters 1-4
October 12-18: Chapters 5-8
October 19-25: Chapters 9-13
October 26-31: Chapters 14-18

Let's try and keep to this schedule and hopefully I'll be able to provide some helpful summaries and analysis. Again, thank you for joining us.


--Daniel

Let's go!

Thank you, I cannot wait to start reading this novel! Enjoy Reading, 📚

Halfway through, first time actually reading the BOTM after being a member for years. This story is as if Du Maurier wanted a Wuthering Heights/Jane Eyre sandwich and made it herself. Enjoying the setting as a character as well.

Chapter 1-4 reflections

The opening chapter was so ominous that it’s best read aloud. Daphne Du Maurier has placed us in a comfortless coach that might as well have been a wagon transporting goods: a detail that establishes the setting while foreshadowing things to come. We are in the middle of a torrent on a cold November day. The coach is moving away from familiarity, and we are processing that through the mind of one of its passengers, Mary Yellan. We learn that she grew up in the town of Helford, which is about forty miles away in the opposite direction. The further she moves away from it; the more the reader learns about her life up to that point. They pass the town of Helston where she and her father had made weekly trips to sell their farm goods. This kind of existence may have been perceived as “rough” for many but gave Mary a sense a pride. The Yellans were always farmers, so when the father died, it was only natural for her and her mother to keep up the work. However, pride can gas you through hardship until the battle becomes you. In this case, the eventual demise of her mother. Although her mother was challenging the social mores of the time, she was realistic enough to know that this livelihood was a death sentence for a young woman with no husband. She urged Mary to live with her aunt and uncle, which was more of a promise than a demand, revealing to us our eventual destination: a place known as Jamaica Inn.

Its name carries a reputation, and that reputation is nothing to be thought of lightly. This notion is confirmed by the others within the coach and falls on Mary’s ears as a plead of caution. But she urges the driver to keep driving, even when told to spend the night outside of town until the morning. When she finally arrives to this bleak moorland, she is welcomed by a stranger who she finds out is her uncle, Joss Merlyn. He is the landlord and barkeep of Jamaica Inn: a place she learns is an establishment placed on a morally unsound junction. Joss Merlyn is a towering figure who is as intimidating as the residence itself. His personality is unpredictable, often teetering on psychological manipulation. This is apparent when Mary is introduced to her Aunt Patience who seems far different than she remembers from childhood, in look and manner. Like her name, she is understanding of her husband’s ways. Her disposition is like a wounded animal that knows its limitations. Through their relationship, Mary senses that this is a dangerous environment. That fact is drilled into her head by her uncle—literally— by the harshness of his words and the occasional influence of his hands. She later discovers that there are mysterious things about this place and its unusual set up. Her inquisitive mind finds out a great deal early on.


For all the readers:

Do you think Mary’s mother was as ignorant to her sister’s situation as she is believed to be?

Also,

It seems like Mary has a bottomless reserve of empathy for people but also looks out for herself. This is most apparent when she explores the Moors and finds her Uncle’s birth place. She even imagines his brother succumbing to his death; information that was alluded to in her uncle's drunken ramblings the night prior.

Do you think she feels empathy for Joss Merlyn? Although he is a caustic presence, does she want to understand him through his past?

[For those who are reading beyond our schedule's check points, please be cognizant of the information in your responses]

Tori wrote: "Halfway through, first time actually reading the BOTM after being a member for years. This story is as if Du Maurier wanted a Wuthering Heights/Jane Eyre sandwich and made it herself. Enjoying the ..."

Tori, it's great to have you involved in this read! The Wuthering Heights / Jane Eyre comment is on point, especially Jane's tough, pensive mind.

Danny wrote: "Chapter 1-4 reflections

The opening chapter was so ominous that it’s best read aloud. Daphne Du Maurier has placed us in a comfortless coach that might as well have been a wagon transporting goods..."

I believe that Mary's mother had enough on her plate running the farm and raising Mary. Perhaps she wondered about her sister but I don't think she knew the depth of her sister's trouble. I very much doubt she would send her daughter into that situation if she did... though as I type this I wonder if maybe Mary's mother knew exactly the type of person Mary was and her strength and sent her knowingly to her sister as a form of help to her. Mary seems strong enough to handle whatever is thrown at her so far and perhaps her mother recognised that and hoped she could help.

I think Mary probably does have empathy for Joss, but she also has some fear, though not enough to keep her from trying to take him on. She definitely is coming at this task of freeing her aunt from him through knowledge and understanding so she can best him and I think her empathy helps her with this.

Side note: I love, love, loved, her seeing his brother's death like a film on the moors. One of my favourite scenes so far!

Hey everyone! Hope all is well. Happy to be joining the discussions again. The only other Daphne du Maurier I’ve read was Rebecca and I do see some similarities with it already.

For chapter 1-4 I agree with Avionne that the mother was preoccupied with her own life to know what was happening to her sister. I’m still not sure if Mary is fully empathetic towards her uncle but he did say they are similar with curiosity.

Mix wrote: "Hey everyone! Hope all is well. Happy to be joining the discussions again. The only other Daphne du Maurier I’ve read was Rebecca and I do see some similarities with it already.

For chapter 1-4 I..."

Hey Mix!

I still remember your comments from The Tenant at Wildfell Hall, so I'm excited to hear your take on Jamaica Inn.

Since this novel is very plot driven, I will focus all of the reflection questions on implication.

In relation to the first one, I agree with both you and Avionne as well. When I think of the lifestyle of farming, I imagine long hours and no days off. It's probably difficult to keep up with anyone, family or friends, outside of that orbit. Entrusting her sister and brother-in-law with her only daughter seemed like the most pragmatic option.

On the other hand, it would just be interesting to think of her mother placing Mary in her sister's life knowing that her daughter is a more steadfast individual. Based on Mary's descriptions, her aunt's prim and "delicate" persona leaves her quite vulnerable to the Joss Merlyns of the world.

Mix wrote: "Hey everyone! Hope all is well. Happy to be joining the discussions again. The only other Daphne du Maurier I’ve read was Rebecca and I do see some similarities with it already.

For chapter 1-4 I..."

Oh I'm glad you are joining in with this... dream team back together again!

Thoughts on week 2:

Francis Davey friend or foe? His encounter feels like the antitheses of the encounter with Jem. There seems to be more reason to “trust” Francis comparing professions and their relation to Jamaica inn.
Joss sees Mary as an ideal partner in crime. Could she go to the dark side as a heroine of justice with her ability to tolerate the Merlyns?

At this stage of the book, it is clear that Mary’s role in Jamaica Inn is to be there for her aunt and eventually take her away from all this nefarious activity. On those first nights as a bar maid, she is appalled by the misanthropic crowd of hustlers and thieves. However, the more heinous activity happens during the cover of night, right underneath her window. Mary’s curiosity puts her in harm’s way but gives her some evidential ammunition against her uncle and those in his inner circle.

We are introduced to Jem Merlyn: the younger brother of her uncle and supposedly the one with the coldest disposition. There is something peculiar in his countenance that seems a lot more approachable than her uncle Joss. He leverages a kind of honesty and acceptability that strangely justifies his way of existence. As much as Mary despises the Merlyn family line, she can’t seem to fully rid herself of him. If anything, he is a puzzle piece in this whole underground operation and may be of use for her eventual escape. In fact, she finds herself covering for him when Mr. Basat, the town magistrate, comes banging on the front door of Jamaica Inn, looking for her uncle.

The author does a good job at showing subversion when Mary finds herself somewhat complicit in her uncle’s affairs. She doesn’t know all but knows enough to protect the Merlyns. Remember, that’s her aunt’s husband, and she has begrudgingly accepted this tainted namesake through marriage. And most importantly, Mary has accepted this by living under his roof.

As the story continues, we are introduced to another individual—quite haphazardly—through Mary’s stubborn desire to find more information. She is found cold, hungry, and tired on the roadside by a vicar on his way back from his pious duties. After placing her on his horse, they ride to his small cottage for sustenance. His hospitality and bedside manner does something to Mary, and she can’t help divulging everything she knows, or rather, thinks to be true about Jamaica Inn. The vicar listens intently but is also rational when informed about all these presumptions. He also has the street sense to know that an operation as big as this must have cooperation by people on both sides of the law. She is finally taken back to Jamaica Inn and arrives to find her uncle passed out on the kitchen table draped in candlelight. This scene plays out for weeks, showing her aunt in an entirely different capacity.

To all the readers:

This October’s theme is centered on the subjective view of the villain. The Merlyns fit this description more than any other characters thus far within the novel.

On that note, what makes Joss Merlyn an abominable presence, beyond the obvious traits?

What makes Jem Merlyn an intimidating presence, just the same?

Mix wrote: "Thoughts on week 2:

Francis Davey friend or foe? His encounter feels like the antitheses of the encounter with Jem. There seems to be more reason to “trust” Francis comparing professions and their..."

I'm so glad you brought this up. I actually wanted to ask if anyone else got a bad vibe off the vicar. As I was reading I started to think, this guy is in on it. His cool and calm reaction to Mary's story made me immediately suspicious. He could easily be part of the greater smuggling operation. How better to make moves without notice than me a man of the church.

I 100% think Mary is the sort of person that holds her own morals above all else and if she has reason for those morals to include protecting her uncle, as she did with the squire to keep her aunt out of trouble, then I think she will do whatever it takes to do so.

Danny wrote: "At this stage of the book, it is clear that Mary’s role in Jamaica Inn is to be there for her aunt and eventually take her away from all this nefarious activity. On those first nights as a bar maid..."

Joss is a menacing character especially at first. The fact that we, at this point, have good reason to believe he has killed someone adds to that menace. He seems to value making money over everything else and shows only interest in his own well-being. However through this latest scene we see his vulnerability. Joss's reaction to Mr. Bassat poking his nose around the inn is one of real concern. I think it also brings up all his fears over his past actions that now haunt him. This break in his aggressive persona, is interesting to me because despite him being a pretty vile person, I found some sympathy for him.

Jem Merlyn on the other hand comes across as unfazed by anything which adds to his apparent coldness and intimidating presence. Mary is pulled towards him though and seems to not be as wary of him as she maybe should be. I look forward to seeing how the interactions between Mary and Jem move forward and how they change.

Mix wrote: "Thoughts on week 2:

Francis Davey friend or foe? His encounter feels like the antitheses of the encounter with Jem. There seems to be more reason to “trust” Francis comparing professions and their..."

I sensed that Francis Davey was gaslighting Mary when he told her that she was embellishing the details about what she knows about Jamaica Inn, and her Uncle. His calm demeanor might be the ultimate cover. On a different note, I'm starting to see Mary's naivety through her actions. Why would you go strolling through the Moors off main roads when you don't know where everything is?

Also, she seemed quick to divulge all that info to a stranger. If she is planning to take an espionage role, she's not covering her tracks in the best way.

Danny wrote: "At this stage of the book, it is clear that Mary’s role in Jamaica Inn is to be there for her aunt and eventually take her away from all this nefarious activity. On those first nights as a bar maid..."

Beyond the obvious traits, it seems like rumors about Jamaica Inn from the first coachman and others and Aunt Patience's terror adds a lot of Joss Merlyn's abominable presence.

For Jem Merlyn it may be the introduction from Joss about him and the fact that he is his brother.

Avionne wrote: "Danny wrote: "At this stage of the book, it is clear that Mary’s role in Jamaica Inn is to be there for her aunt and eventually take her away from all this nefarious activity. On those first nights..."

I also found Joss' vulnerability interesting. It made me see him in, still the same light, but a bigger one. Makes me think about people who are dealing with addiction or unable to get out of a bad situation that paints them not 'positively' by that choice. I also remembered the part where Mary felt some grace in his hands when he offered her food at the beginning. It was comparable to how her aunt was more unstable from her fear of him and dropped the food.

Danny wrote: "Mix wrote: "Thoughts on week 2:

Francis Davey friend or foe? His encounter feels like the antitheses of the encounter with Jem. There seems to be more reason to “trust” Francis comparing professio..."

I also wondered about what made Mary so comfortable to reveal so much to the vicar compared with how smart she was with Jem or Bassat.

Thoughts on week 3:
These chapters were really action packed! Mary is fearless and I LOL at the pony selling scene.

Reflections for Chapters 9-13

I love how these plot moves are deliberate and even cinematic, at times, while the behavior of characters leaves much for implication. Mary's steadfast devotion to her Aunt, as well as the law of the land, often contradicts her innate needs. As much as she probably hates to admit, she exhibits coquettish behavior frequently. She has desires and those desires often rival her conservative upbringing. She knew she was riding "close to the flame" when she made the decision to be Jem's accomplice (which she was) during his horse thievery. In fact, her being there made him look less of a criminal, which is something,I feel, he factored into the equation. On the other hand, we see fear and helplessness masquerading as brute force with her uncle.

My brain thinks he is morally wrong, but those who involve themselves in that particular enterprise usually do not have a conscience. He dreams about it and needs to mask it through drink, making me believe that it's a big front of intimidation.

Now we must look at the Vicar, Francis Davey, and question his behavior as well. His reaction to Joss "spilling the beans" while he's drunk reminded me of a mob boss compartmentalizing their emotions to appear apathetic but already seeing an individual as already dead. It's cold and calculated.

Would love to hear your thoughts on all of this.

Mix wrote: "Thoughts on week 3:
These chapters were really action packed! Mary is fearless and I LOL at the pony selling scene."

Yeah, I agree about that and I too found that scene humorous.

Danny wrote: "Reflections for Chapters 9-13

I love how these plot moves are deliberate and even cinematic, at times, while the behavior of characters leaves much for implication. Mary's steadfast devotion to he..."

Here's my take:

Joss - He has guilt over the lives he has taken and drinks to deal with that guilt. While he clearly saw something in Patience at one time, her lack of strength to stand up by his side lessens her in his eyes while he equally likes to be in charge of her. Mary offers him a woman with strength and the fact that she can hold her own with him is appealing.

Jem - He is, at this time, a kind of harmless thief. He hasn't murdered anyone but he does have this coldness that worries Mary, however she, like her aunt before her, has fallen under the spell of a Merlyn man and can't seem to help herself when it comes to him. I am undecided if Jem will prove himself to be a worthy match for Mary or if he is a temptation she had best avoid.

Vicar Davey - I am full blown convinced he is the evil mastermind behind this all. I latched on to that "spilling the beans" as a real sign that he is more than just a vicar. His cool reaction to Mary's story really does read like he knows everything she is saying to him already. I need to get to the end of the book to find out if my theory will pan out or not.

Mary - I love her. Though I am unimpressed by her falling for Jem, I also forgive her this because I think she has lived a very lonely life, especially the last few years. She longs for someone to connect with and Jem offers her that connection despite her misgivings about his character. She also shows a very real strength in the face of adversity that I can admire.

Mix wrote: "Thoughts on week 3:
These chapters were really action packed! Mary is fearless and I LOL at the pony selling scene."

Mix, I felt the same way when reading! You go from highs to lows within a few pages. What adds to the suspense is that we don't know who is involved and to what extent.

Danny wrote: "Reflections for Chapters 9-13

I love how these plot moves are deliberate and even cinematic, at times, while the behavior of characters leaves much for implication. Mary's steadfast devotion to he..."

I thought a lot of scenes were cinematic as well... the moor seems like its own character. I also agree that a few of the characters surprised me with their behaviors at times. I feel like Mary surprised me with her fearlessness. She seemed very strict with what's right and wrong but when it came down to fighting for herself she acted right away. I really liked the part where she reflected on why she shouldn't fall for Jem. It felt relatable and shows that attraction can get the better of us and it's sometimes not reasonable. Maybe that wildness/freeness of Jem (or both brothers) attracted her. Her character was very interesting to me because she was judgmental yet she had that daring part of her that Joss respected as well.
I think Joss was similar in the way that he surprised me like Mary because we all expected him to be the villain but I did have some sympathy for him at times.
Francis Davey gave me suspicion when he didn't react to what Mary was saying. He even talked her out of it and I think that was when I thought he was suspicious.
Jem seemed suspicious too and I hope he was a good guy just for the sake of the protagonist but I really couldn't tell for a while. I thought it would also be interesting story if I was wrong and that he was after all involved with his brother.

Avionne wrote: "Danny wrote: "Reflections for Chapters 9-13

I love how these plot moves are deliberate and even cinematic, at times, while the behavior of characters leaves much for implication. Mary's steadfast ..."

I would like to know more about Joss and Patience's relationship... like was there ever anything?

I apologize for posting this last reflection late, but I hope everyone enjoyed the read. It was quite an affair from start to finish.

At the close of the book, I kept thinking about the subjectivity of evil. When we didn't know of the wreaker operation, the wagons seemed to carry a demonic presence. There were times when I thought that it was some kind of undead army of individuals. These men were that, in some respect, but on the moral side of things, which is more frightening to me than any fantastical element. The Vicar's nihilistic view on humanity was like the cherry on top.

In chapter 18, the narrator says, "It might be that anxiety had blinded her to beauty, and she had made confusion in her mind with man and nature; the austerity of the moors and been strangely interwoven with the fear and hatred of her uncle and Jamaica Inn"

Although this passage was about her uncle, I felt that this statement pertains to Francis Davey more. Mary seeing the vicar use his position to soften the guard of others and carry out true evil, I feel, had an effect on her worldview, more than the other characters in the story. At the close, it feels like she goes with Jem because she doesn't know what is "right" anymore. For a woman, it would be a challenge to farm on her own and to do so, she may need to depend on others like Squire Bassat and feel indebted towards people who she would rather leave behind.

But I feel like she can't truly go back to Helston because her provincial views are permanently altered. From her experiences at Jamaica Inn, the bad were bad, but the supposedly good were worse or even tolerably annoying, in regards to the Squire. A life with Jem would be a challenge but one that would give her space to unravel her new worldview.

Danny wrote: "I apologize for posting this last reflection late, but I hope everyone enjoyed the read. It was quite an affair from start to finish.

At the close of the book, I kept thinking about the subjectivi..."
I think the author did a good job unveiling the evil little by little as if we were Mary and we were growing up with her. I reflect on how she was tormented at the Jamaica Inn only to find her in a worse position with the vicar at the end. (Sidenote: the vicar’s radiality was strange and felt a bit dramatic to me). It did feel like Mary was tired at the end but also became a new person like she can conquer anything. I don’t know if changing her plans for Jem was it but I agree that her views are definitely altered.