The book lists two excerpts of literary works at the beginning. In the first one, The Napoleon of Notting Hill, G.K. Chesterton writes he would rather not go there and lists three dark images of the area. However, According to Wikipedia, St. John’s Wood is a highly desirable residential district and one of the most expensive areas of London. Maybe the book wants to reveal the dark side of London, a city generally perceived as modern and historical. Or it wants to emphasize the attitude of considering both good and bad sides when we look at things.
When I read the full version of the poem, The Lyke Wake Dirge, I felt life is full of compromising, that you get what you give others. So if I help those in need, I will get a reward in some way. But if I only care about myself and refuse to give a hand to them, there will be nobody to help me when I am in need.
The prologue implies that Richard will face a great deal of hardships when he moves to London. Richard giving the woman an umbrella with a map of London Underground on it suggests he will run into troubles since he is not familiar with London. Also, old lady warning Richard about ‘doors’ and his friend telling that he will not get ‘real Scotch’ in London indicates London is different from where he has lived until now and could be quite harsh.
In chapter 1, the author uses several contrasts. First, he contrasts Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar. This part reminds readers that they depend on each other because Croup is more of a planner while Vandemar likes to jump into action right away. If Richard is to fight with them, he will need other people to support him. Another contrast lies between Door, and Richard and Jessica. When Door is running desperately for her life, Jessica talks about how Richard should act during the dinner with her boss. This one is more interesting because Door appears lying in front of them, asking for help. Here, the author contrasts Richard’s personality with Jessica’s since Jessica is more realistic and exhibits strong desire to climb up the social ladder.
Chapter 2 shows Richard looking for the Marquis de Carabas and taking him to Door. In order to send a message, Door uses an ordinary London pigeon. Although it is not a homing pigeon, it understands Door and successfully does his job. I felt that listening to someone’s heart with faith in his/her ability can bring a big difference. As for de Carabas, he uses a rat to send a reply. Most people generally consider rats to be filthy and carry diseases, thus want to get rid of them. However, a rat is shown as a means of exchanging messages, a job of significant importance. This gives a chance to think about things people do not normally pay much attention. When Richard goes down the manhole with de Carabas, he realizes that ‘he did not know very much about what went on beneath the streets of London’. Again, a similar theme is present in this sentence, and I believe ‘the Lyke Wake Dirge’ shares the same meaning. Every person or object has its unique strength, and therefore should not be underestimated.
In chapter 3, Richard finds other people completely ignoring his existence. Ones who were acquainted with him recognize that he is there, but do not remember anything about him. Others do not even notice Richard standing in front of them. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be an invisible man and do anything I want to do such as boarding an airplane without anyone finding about it. However, I believe human interaction is what makes life beautiful as long as humans are social animals. Aching loneliness will soon replace the freedom to do whatever comes to mind. Another interesting concept in chapter three was London Below. Maybe, people choose to see only what they want to see. Things they approve of exist in London Above while they avoid things in London Below, represented by rat-speakers. Despite social stereotypes and prejudices, it is crucial to face the truth and look at the world just as it is.
