Loss and Loneliness
Within ‘The Beast in the Jungle’, Henry James approaches a common theme of loneliness, but in a new way. John Marcher begins the novella surrounded by people, and gains May Bartram as a companion early on. However, his ‘secret’, that he believes he is destined for something greater, means that he feels as if no-one in society can understand him or the ‘beast’ that he watches for. Even May is merely a watcher, and John states that he could not marry her as this would involve her fully in his life. His sense of a constant loneliness is therefore self-imposed, and artificial. He chooses to omit himself from social events, and only finds a slight solace from his loneliness in his long talks with May. This theme of loneliness means that Marcher’s reaction to May’s death is different to that of grief. In the loss of his only companion, he realizes he has lead a truly lonely life in not allowing himself to love her. Therefore, Marcher may see his state of perpetual loneliness as without choice. Yet the tragedy is that, in waiting for fate to strike him, he does choose to live life truly alone.
Failure
Perhaps the most important theme of the novella, the reader is aware that failure haunts Marcher his entire life. Yet, he only becomes aware of it at the end of his life, when it is too late to begin again. James also alters the definition of failure. Traditionally, it is to not fulfill any goals that one has. Yet, to fail in James’ tale is for Marcher to ‘be nothing’. He concludes that he would have at least been ‘something’ if he had gone bankrupt, or committed a crime; he would at least be associated with an action. This definition of failure is particularly tragic as it reduces Marcher from a person with choices and free will, to a being without identity or life experience. From this point of view, Marcher is still metaphorically at the beginning of his life, looking towards events that will happen. Yet, having spent his entire life like this, all he has in his impending future is now death. He failed at basic human instinct, to make choices and live a normal life.
Identity
Perhaps the most important theme of the novella, the reader is aware that failure haunts Marcher his entire life. Yet, he only becomes aware of it at the end of his life, when it is too late to begin again. James also alters the definition of failure. Traditionally, it is to not fulfill any goals that one has. Yet, to fail in James’ tale is for Marcher to ‘be nothing’. He concludes that he would have at least been ‘something’ if he had gone bankrupt, or committed a crime; he would at least be associated with an action. This definition of failure is particularly tragic as it reduces Marcher from a person with choices and free will, to a being without identity or life experience. From this point of view, Marcher is still metaphorically at the beginning of his life, looking towards events that will happen. Yet, having spent his entire life like this, all he has in his impending future is now death. He failed at basic human instinct, to make choices and live a normal life.
Gender
In the last chapter, Marcher comes to the realization that if he had loved May, he would have been saved. This suggests themes of both sexuality and gender that arise throughout the tale. Firstly, Marcher refuses to take May as his wife, as he believes he cannot invite a woman to share the ‘privilege’ of his condition. This can be read in two ways. Either Marcher believes that he is of a superior gender, and that a woman could not possibly fully understand the fate that awaits him. Or perhaps the more plausible option, that Marcher is so committed to a life of solitude as he will not need a partner once this terrible fate happens to him. There are also wider issues of gender that James suggests. The narrative focuses on Marcher’s life, with May happily acting as a bystander to the action. There is therefore a male dominance throughout the text that is nearly missed. Marcher is not overtly patriarchal towards May, yet when examined, there is a definite sense of control.
Existentialism
The novella follows John Marcher from a young age to what the reader presumes is almost the end of his life. James therefore presents larger questions in this story; as John contemplates the purpose of his life, the reader is prompted to question their own purpose. This also links in with the theme of fate. Marcher believes that his fate is something separate from him, an event or person that will come in to his life and determine who he is. Whilst the ending is ambiguous, James seems to suggest that fate is intrinsic with your being, and you decide both your identity and the path that your life takes. This theme also perhaps suggests that fate is not a single, fixed event. Marcher believes it is one ‘beast’ that will change him. Instead, it is every small decision and feeling that one has throughout life that determines your fate. If Marcher had only stopped trying to control his fate, perhaps it would have become a happier one.
Obsession
Obsession is an important theme in James’ plot. It is a necessity, and what directs all of Marcher’s, and consequently May’s, actions. Yet, James never explores the psychological motive behind Marcher’s obsession. It is very quickly accepted by May as a legitimate fate, and Marcher never explains why he believes that he has been chosen for something different. This theme also leads on to another type of obsession: May’s obsessive love for Marcher. She dedicates her life to his secret, becoming almost as obsessed with it as he. This suggests the all-encompassing power of obsession that can engulf another’s life also. This transforms May’s love from companionable to obsessive, becoming almost a female Marcher rather than a potential wife. Therefore, obsession acts as a plague in ‘The Beast in The Jungle’, spreading to the vulnerable.
