mdmd(4) - Outline

[Brian D. McCary]

mdmd(4) - Outline

Chapter 11 - Introduction to St. Helena
	This chapter introduces the reader to St. Helena, then returns
to Mason's life in London in the year following R ebecca's death,
(previously, but breifly, refered to in Chapter 3) then ending back in
St. Helena.  Death and the image of the gallows is the dominant theme.
Wicks admits he was not there, and may be speculating on large parts of
this, goa ded on by Ethelmer.
	Eurphrenia begins by pining for the beauty of old St. Helena,
which she has never seen.  This prompts an exchang e about the need for
direct experience in story-telling.  Ethelmer manages to intrigue Brea
momentarily.  Following is a general description of the island:  we
learn it is inescapably windy (similar Ticherine's Siberia) and
produces the ill usion of near submirsion in the sea.  As an island,
and like a boat, St. Helena is at the mercy of the winds and the
waves.  The town gallows are mentioned in a stunning line about the
relationship between commerce, slavery, and the gallows.  James's Town
is the major port, located on the leeward side, and is a layover point
for many people making the trip from England down to the cape or
further out to India  M&D, watching newcomers come ashore, observe a
young lady Mason previously met at the hanging of Lord Ferreres in
London, the year after Rebecca's death.  Florinda and Mason flirt
furiously during the hanging, but Florinda loses real interest upon
learing that Mason is an Astronomer.  However, upon meeting in James's
Town, they recall each other fondly.  At this point, she introduces
Mason (and us) to her Fiance, Mr. Mornival.  The chapter ends with
another chapter 3 echo, Dixon's Unfinished Joke.

Chapter 12:
	Theme of insanity.  We get introduced to Maskelyne.
	M&D & Maskelyne are drinking at Maskelyne's local, The Moon, with
Dixon & Maskelyne verbally fencing, while the Landlord, one Mr.
Blackner, listens in.  Mason mentions London again, Maskelyne seems
obsessed with the meloncholy, to the point of disparaging it.  Turns
out it's Maskelyne's 29'th birthday, and there is a surprise
celebration for him, courtesy of Mr. Blackner.  We learn that Dixon is
to return to the Cape for three months, by order of the Royal Society,
appearantly to remake some measurements of the moons of Jupiter, using
the clock originally used by Maskelyne during the transit of Venus.
Mason reveals that Maskelyne's sector (used in measuring the altitude
of the stars) is broken, which renders his observations of Sirius
almost entirely useless.  The chapter ends with a long discussion
between the two clocks about various subjects:  the personallities of
M&D, Cape Town, and sea travel.  Dixon departs for the Cape, after a
few words of advice to Mason.

Chapter 13:
        A muddle of a chapter.
	We are formally introduced to Maskelyne, who whisks Mason off
through the town just after Dixon's departure.  Mason seems to be
exploring the idea of running away for a while, although from what, I'm
not entirely sure.  Maskelyne appears to be a somewhat bitter man, full
of frustrated ambition and slightly envious of what he percieves as
Mason's good fortune.  Mr. Waddington, Maskelyne's original second,
departed immediately after the Transit, appearantly disparing of
James's Town, St. Helena, and possibly Maskelyne himself, leaving
Maskelyne struggling on his own with the defective sector.  Turns out
Maskelyne is the brother-in-law of Clive of India, which further feeds
his frustrations but which allows him to drink for free.  (basically).
We learn that Maskelyne failed to get three of the four transit times,
due to cloud cover.  In the upper observatory, we find that Maskelyne
imagines fierce creatures approaching in the dark.  Later, M&M visit
the last remaining orange grove on St. Helena, and they discuss
paradise, which seques into astrology.  They agree to draw up each
other's charts:  Mason was born under Venus, and Dixon under the sun,
of which Maskelyne makes much.  We get hints (which occur later in the
novel as well) that there is an unusual interest in Dixon at High
Levels, for reasons unclear.  We learn that Mason has been reviewing
some of Maskelyne's work on the Longitude Problem as part of Mason's
secraterial chores for Bradley.  This provides an excuse for a long
catalog of odd solutions, the last of which involves observations made
by Dr. Zhang, who shows up later in America as the Jesuit Chinaman.
(Chapt. 55, ect)  Thinking about Bradly brings us to Mason's unrequited
love (or lust) for Suzanna Peach, wife of Bradley (his employer) and
Daughter of Sam Peach, RS pillar.  This all builds into a song, then
there is an abrupt change back to Maskelyne's chart.  Maskelyne has a
fairly good chart, except for retrograde Mercury, suggesting poor
communication.  Chapter ends with a nice little quip on (Robert) Clive
of India.


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