Narration and Unpredictability in Charles Brockden’s Brown

Sometimes, it is necessary to have an omniscient narrator, someone who can read the minds of the other characters and explain to the reader exactly what is happening. Other times a narrator does not always know what is going on. This is more engaging for the reader allowing us to sort of play along as we discover the details with the narrator. Aferall, who wants horror that is predictable? Wieland, a novel by Charles Brockden Brown, is a shining example of unpredictable horror. Brown pulls off his story beautifully-reminding us how right Mark Twain was when he said that the most important part of a novel is the narrator.

Brown uses Clara as a first person narrator one who does not fully understand the state of affairs surrounding her- an extremely intriguing factor to us, as readers. While Clara may give an inaccurate account of the details of the story, allowing the reader to view events through her eyes gives an added sense of terror. Instead of merely plodding through an account of events, the reader is taken with Clara on a roller coaster ride of emotions. As Claras opinions and views change, so do the readers. As an author, Brown intertwines his feminist views into his work. The reader becomes captivated with Claras poweress- her unending search for her belief in her self. Clara is more than a character, more than a narrator, but a woman of strength even in times of great trauma. Browns attention to detail in defining Claras character is tremendous. His assurance in her as the narrator says a lot for his feminist views. This story could not be told any better by any of the characters. Neither Carawin nor Wieland himself could have done a better job. Brown assures the reader that the most grounded character in the novel is Clara- the strong female in the novel. As readers, we end up trusting her and feeling emotions with her.

A good narrator is one that can affect the reader just by encompassing everything around them. The use of voices in the novel seems just like another piece of the imagination that engages us into the plot. However, when they begin to affect Clara personally, that is when the reader begins to squirm. As clara is trying to sleep one night, she is disturbed:

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My mind was thronged by vivid, but confused images, and no effort that I made was sufficient to drive them awayNo wonder that a circumstance like this startled me. In the first impulse of my terror, I uttered a slight scream, and shrunk to the opposite side of the bedl was habitually indifferent to all the causes of fear, by which the majority are affected. I entertained no apprehension of either ghosts or robbers. (63-64).

This quote is a prime example of how Clara is disturbed but yet, being the strong female she is, her sense of security is quickly regained.

The explanations of where the voices are coming are left to the reader and Clara to decide. We are often fooled by not knowing more. We can not possibly know more then Clara. We are stuck with Clara (which is not so bad, considering she is the most sane of the bunch) and the processes of her mind in determining the voices. The following is Clara perplexed by the voices:

I called; Judith, said I, is it you? What do you want? Is there any thing the matter with you? No answer was returned. I repeated my inquiry, but equally in vain. (64).

A great description given to us of Claras state is best given when she says,

Cloudy as was the atmosphere, and curtained as my bed was, nothing was over in my thoughts, every circumstance that could assist my conjectures (64).visible.I ran

As readers we see that Clara is desperately seeking an end to her confusion. This is where I, as a reader felt sorry for Clara. I wanted so badly to help her. I was with her, yet, wanted to know more so I could help. At times, I found myself feeling frustrated that Clara did not have more to work with. She only had her opinions and her views of her experiences. I believe that I would have seen things differently- this created stress in me as a reader. Clara convinces us there is no one in the closet, but just as quickly, she hears a second noise. How frustrating! Who is she kidding? The voices had tricked her before, why was she about to play again? Clara listens quietly as the voices in her closet discuss her murder. Personal terror filled me as I felt Claras mind racing. The fear produced in this scene is only effective because of Claras narration. Had the reader been given a plausible explanation for the voices in the closet, there would have been no need for panic.

Brown uses the extreme variation of Claras feelings toward Carwin as another source of terror and the narrators emotion in this story. Claras attitude towards this man is negative- rightly so, the man does go insane. The description Clara gives us of Carwin speaks for his character with extreme disgust:

My blood is congealed: and my fingers are palsied when I call up his image (56). Continually through the novel, the readers emotions are led to mirror Claras thoughts. Although, at this point, she does not go into much detail, Clara is obviously horrified by this man. The reader may begin to question why Clara feels this way, but it seems unlikely that they will question the accuracy of her portrayal of Carwin. By this point, we, as readers have grown to trust her. The vividness with which she writes about Carwins corrupt nature leads the reader to share her opinions without completely understanding why.

In his novel, Wieland, Brown shows us how reading a novel can be an active experience- especially when the reader is so engaged in the narrator. During the novel, we followed Claras emotions and terror as suspense was maintained. Claras views changed in the novel and we as readers either stuck with her or were left behind. It was up to us to discover with Clara the array of the insane imaginative characters in the story. From Wieland to Carwin, we hoped that Clara didnt turn and join the likes of them! As for me, I stuck with her. The use of first person narration was engaging. I applaud Brown for this ability. As a reader I was not only captivated, but at times, instilled with fear.

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