Kirti Gourisankar
To Richard, beauty is not the autumnal colors of the trees, but rather their rage and vengeance as they succumb to the changing of seasons. As he exclaims over the stunning “schizophrenia” of the landscape, Richard embarks on a reflection of his lessons with Julian. He ponders over the idea of beauty and the souls of the Greek and is both invigorated and moved by Julian’s teachings. Through the use of contrasting syntax and impactful diction, this selected passage formally introduces a central motif of the story: “Beauty is terror” helping readers to understand the dangers of the romanticism the character’s engage in.
The passage begins with a winding sentence that carries readers to its middle (Tartt 42). The punctuation here is a menagerie of commas and semicolons dispersed through the narrator’s fantastical observations. The lack of any full stops creates an effect so that each idea seemingly morphs into the next. This reflects the dreamlike trance the narrator is in while also setting the stage for the philosophical declarations the narrator is about to launch into. The abundance and volume of his thoughts show readers that the narrator is in a very inspired and contemplative state- the perfect mood to introduce an important theme.
A stark contrast is created then, as the narrator continues on to declare, “Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it” (Tartt 42). The short, simple sentence structure seems abrupt after the rambling, trailing organization of the previous sentence. Such contrast clues readers into the importance of the message. The simple, no frills statement seems innate and honest; it reveals some essential truth about humanity. Additionally, the writing, being in italics, emphasizes the importance of its words, setting them apart from the rest of the narrator’s musings. As such, they are no longer merely his thoughts, but perhaps something more universally significant. The point of view becomes ambiguous. Either way, it hints to readers that the statement is something that will be relevant throughout the book- a central theme to the story. The repetition of the statement “Beauty is terror” later in the passage reinforces this idea. (Tartt 42). Describing beauty in such a specific, repeated way establishes a strong link between the search and focus on things of beauty and an imminent terror and ruin that follows. Each repetition of the idea sounds as a warning and reminder for readers of the dangers of romanticism.
The narrator’s declaration is foreshadowed by some of the more peculiar, though fully intentioned, wording in the first half of his monologue. The narrator describes himself as “achingly conscious” and observes his surroundings as a “deep deep painful blue” (Tartt 42). This is an important word choice as it shows that beauty the narrator describes can only be observed painfully; it’s something almost terrific. There is something sad and visceral about witnessing the beauty around him. These descriptions create a melancholic and alarming mood which suggests to readers that Richard’s romanticism can only bring him pain. Furthermore, the act of romanticism is one rooted in pain and suffering- a comorbid affliction.
The diction again plays an integral role in the second half of the passage. With wording including: “lose control”, “enraged”, and “insanity”, the narrator references the terrorful craze that all humans yearn to succumb to (Tartt 42). Synonymous with our desire for beauty, our desire for terror and madness is intrinsic to our nature- the two are one in the same. In this way, the diction develops the main idea of the passage which argues that beauty is terror, warning readers that a pursuit of beauty through romanticism is volatile and dangerous. Furthermore, such romanticism clouds our senses, and blinds us to the terror it brings. When we focus solely on beauty, we limit our perspective, fatally ignoring the other aspects of our humanity which make us whole.
Another interesting choice in wording, was the reference to van Gogh in the proceeding line (Tartt 42). The allusion to van Gogh subtly pieces together the theme of beauty being terror. His life, particularly the end of it, was hallmarked by his mental illness and internal anguish, which coincided with his life as an artist. Beauty was derived from his struggle and terror; the former could never exist without the latter. Just like Richard’s flawed romanticism, a focus on beauty and art fails to account for the lives and stories that accompany them. We lose the essence of what makes us human when we only regard such small, curated glimpses of our lives.
Throughout the second half of the passage, the narrator makes repeated reference to fire, one of the four classic elements of the ancient Greek (Tartt 42). This choice in diction creates a mood of intensity- a symbolic warning that something of such divine beauty is also a force of destruction. There is a sense of inevitability and inertia to this truth- they way an object burns with certain urgency. Ignoring the burn of the fire for the brightness of its blaze is a quick path to ruin. Similarly, our focus on beauty fragments our perspective, and blinds us to any perception of truth.
The narrator concludes the passage with one last haunting revelation, “We want to be devoured by it, to hide ourselves in that fire which refines us” (Tartt 42). The word devoured is a strong choice of diction to show how fundamental and significant our desire for beauty is, perhaps to a fault. It has a morbid finality to it, creating a feeling of unease- foreshadowing the eventual demise of the book’s protagonists as they lose themselves in their unwavering romanticism. Additionally, the use of the word “refine” is quite unusual. The idea of fire refining rather than destroying is an important distinction because it reveals the flawed perspective of the narrator. His belief that a pursuit of beauty is an essential step towards self-actualization, prevents him from accepting and coping with the less-than beautiful parts of his life. Equating beauty to happiness can only leave someone wanting. Similarly, while romanticism gives us a lens in which to contextualize our lives, it establishes a harmful mindset that relies on the filtering of our experiences, holding us back from living real, full lives.
